FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  THE 
UPPER  OHIO,  1777-1778 


DRAPER  SERIES,  VOLUME  III 


FRONTIER  DEFENSE 


ON  THE 


Upper  Ohio,  1777-1778 

•Compiled  from  the  Draper  Manuscripts  in  the 
Library  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Society 
and  published  at  the  charge  of  the  Wisconsin 
Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution 


EDITED  BY 

REUBEN  GOLD  THWAITES,  LL.  D. 

Superintendent  of  the  Society 
AND 

LOUISE  PHELPS  KELLOGG,  Ph.  D. 

Editorial  Assistant  on  the  Society's  Staff 


MADISON 

WISCONSIN  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 
1912 


Copyright,  1912 
BY  THE  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  WISCONSIN 


Published  March,  1912 


OSHKOSH 
CASTLE-PIERCE  PRINTING  COMPANY 


CONTENTS 


Pacje 

Introduction.      The  Editors       . 
Explanation 

Documents 

Hand  at  Fort  Pitt     .  .1,188 

Frontier  posts  on  the  Ohio 

News  from  Fort  Pitt         .  5,  14,  I28 

Affairs  at  Detroit      .  7,  H,  230,  280 

Defense  of  the  Virginia  frontier       .    16,  21,  69,  205,  209,  223 

General  Hand  warned 

Friendly  Indian  warnings 

•Suggestions  from  Governor  Henry  . 

Provisioning  and  strengthening  the  forts  .        33,  46 

Sundry  raids  and  skirmishes     .         .     33,  36,  78,  93,  138,  151. 

248,  273,  294 

Expeditions  planned  .         .         -  42,  48,  74,  100,  133,  145, 

154,  193,  197,  202,  278 
The  Tory  conspiracy 

The  siege  of  Fort  Henry  54,  72 

Situation  at  Fort  Henry   .  .    50,  76,  83,  129,  138,  245 

Kittanning  evacuated 
Indians  murdered  by  frontiersmen    . 

Relations  with  the  Delawares  .          86,  93,  i12,  164,  228,  241, 

244,  269 

Fort  Hand  built 

Word  from  the  Muskingum      . 

Foreman's  defeat 

Aftermath  of  Foreman's  defeat  •   II8 

Reinforcements  for  Fort  Randolph  .  •   I22 

261253 


vi  CONTENTS 

Page 

Troops  for  the  Continental  Army 132 

Good  news  from  the  East          .  ...   136 

Tory  drowned;  Zackwell  Morgan  arrested  .  .  .142 
Fort  Randolph  reinforced;  Cornstalk  detained  .  .  149 
The  murder  of  Cornstalk  .  .  .  157,  168,  175,  240 
News  from  Fort  Randolph  ....  171,  194,  246 

Indians  of  the  Allegheny 172,  188 

Temper  of  Western  Indians 178 

The  Kentucky  settlements 181 

Loyalists  at  Fort  Pitt         .  .  .    184 

Plans  for  Clark's  expedition  .  .  .  196,  226,  263,  271 
The  Squaw  Campaign  .  .  .  .  201,  215 

Oaths  of  allegiance 203 

Conciliating  the  Shawnee  ...  .    234,  258 

Report  of  Commissioners  ......   238 

Loyalists  escape .    249,  274 

Boat  building 256,  276 

Defense  of  the  Southwestern  frontier       .         .         .    262,  265 
Relations  with  Spaniards  ...  .  289 

Congress  plans  for  the  West     ...  .  293 

News  of  the  French  alliance      ......  297 

Muster  rolls 300 

INDEX 307 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 

Map  of  the  Frontier  of  Northwest  Virginia 

in  the  Revolution        .  •      Frontispiece 

Portrait  of  Gen.  Edward  Hand 
Facsimile  of  portion  of  Gen.  Henry  Hamilton's 

report  of  Council  at  Detroit 
Fort  Henry  (Wheeling,  W.  Va.)  in  1/77 
Portrait  of  Mrs.  Lydia  (Boggs-Shepherd)  Cruger    . 
Blockhouse,  Fort  Pitt 

Monument  to  Cornstalk,  at  Point  Pleasant,  W.  Va.  . 
Portrait  of  Col.  Moses  Shepherd       . 
Portrait  of  Gen.  James  O'Hara 
Facsimile  of  portion  of  letter  by  John  Campbell 

to  George  Rogers  Clark      ....  298 


INTRODUCTION 


The  Draper  Series,  of  which  this  is  Volume  III,  is 
devoted  to  the  publication  of  original  documentary 
material  obtained  in  the  main  from  the  Draper  Manu 
script  Collection,  now  in  the  Society's  possession.  The 
task  of  selection  and  annotation,  and  of  putting  the 
volumes  through  the  press,  has  fallen  to  the  present 
Editors;  but  the  cost  of  printing  has  generously  been 
borne  by  the  Wisconsin  Society  of  the  Sons  of 
the  American  Revolution.  The  first  volume,  a 
Documentary  History  of  Dunmore's  War,  1774,  was 
published  in  May,  1905 ;  the  second,  Revolution  on  the 
Upper  Ohio,  1775-1777,  appeared  in  February,  1908. 
The  present  is  a  continuation  of  Volume  II,  and  will, 
it  is  expected,  be  followed  by  others,  extending  the 
subject  to  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

Volume  II  closed  with  news  of  the  coming  to  Fort 
Pitt  of  Gen.  Edward  Hand.  For  the  frontiersmen  of 
the  Upper  Ohio,  this  was  an  event  of  much  impor 
tance.  He  had  served  in  its  garrison  during  the  British 
regime,  and  was  well-known  and  popular  throughout 
the  district.  His  appointment  was  a  welcome  assur 
ance  to  the  borderers  that  the  commander-in-chief 
and  the  Continental  Congress  proposed,  so  far  as 
seemed  then  possible,  to  assist  in  their  protection. 

But  the  barbaric  enemy  facing  the  frontier  differed 
greatly  from  the  well-equipped,  well-drilled  profes- 


x     FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

sional  army  from  Europe  that  confronted  the  armed 
men  of  the  tidewater.  The  stealthy  foes  of  the  border 
aimed  their  heaviest  blows  at  the  homes,  wives,  and 
children  of  the  settlers;  no  life  was  safe  from  them, 
no  person  secure.  Through  long  and  bitter  experience, 
the  backwoodsmen  had  come  to  understand  the  art 
of  defense  by  concentration  within  neighborhood 
blockhouses  and  log  forts.  But  a  new  danger  pre 
sented  itself.  The  Indians  were  now  guided  and  stim 
ulated  by  the  nation's  white  enemies,  so  that  to  their 
native  cunning  were  added  the  superior  intelligence 
and  more  astute  methods  of  the  English.  The  situa 
tion  soon  became  desperate. 

The  British  authorities  at  Detroit  were  especially 
active  in  urging  the  Indians  to  war  against  the  Ameri 
cans.  Permissory  orders  to  that  effect  were  received 
by  Lieutenant-Governor  Hamilton  early  in  June,  1777. 
With  consummate  skill  he  roused  the  barbarians  to 
frenzy ;  under  his  stimulus  they  prepared  to  hurl 
themselves  upon  the  American  frontier.  The  invading 
parties  were  provided  by  Hamilton  with  proclamations 
prepared  both  by  Governor  Carleton  and  himself,  call 
ing  on  the  Western  inhabitants  to  submit  to  King 
George  and  take  refuge  within  the  British  posts, 
where  a  land  bounty  would  be  given  them  for  loyal 
service.  This  project  was  adroitly  devised  to  mingle 
terror  and  mercy,  in  the  hope  that  the  colonists'  rebel 
lion  would  speedily  be  crushed  on  the  Western  bor 
ders;  and  that  the  Easterners,  finding  themselves  be 
tween  two  fires,  would  be  obliged  to  yield.  The  effect 
of  these  proclamations,  scattered  by  Indian  raiders 


INTRODUCTION  xi 

throughout  the  American  backwoods  settlements,  was 
considerable.  In  some  cases  they  were  suppressed  by 
American  officers,  but  the  Loyalist  disaffection  in  the 
trans-Alleghany  is  largely  attributable  to  this  source. 

The  herculean  task  confronting  Hand  on  his  arrival 
at  Fort  Pitt  was  to  defend  the  vast  frontier  (stretch 
ing  from  Kittanning  on  the  north  to  the  Great 
Kanawha  on  the  south)  from  the  inroads  of  Indian 
parties,  and  to  overawe  disaffection  and  active  Loy 
alist  measures  within  the  settlements.  To  accom 
plish  this  result,  Congress  had  given  him  a  mere  hand 
ful  of  regular  troops,  and  left  him  to  recruit  militia 
men  and  commandeer  the  supplies  sufficient  for  his 
needs.  Four  principal  forts  were  placed  at  strategic 
points — Kittanning,  Pitt,  Henry,  and  Randolph.  In 
addition  there  were  numerous  local  blockhouses,  for 
every  small  community  "forted"  while  danger  hovered 
near ;  but  during  a  lull  in  hostilities,  the  men  ventured 
to  attend  to  their  home  duties  in  the  widely  scattered 
farmsteads  and  fields.  To  add  to  his  difficulties,  Hand 
was  much  embarrassed  by  the  active  and  often  viru 
lent  boundary  controversy  between  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia,  both  states  claiming  jurisdiction  of  the  re 
gion  around  Fort  Pitt. 

Fortunately  for  the  final  event,  the  tribesmen  who 
had  declared  war  against  the  border  were  those  known 
to  the  frontiersmen  as  the  "far  Indians,"  with  habitats 
about  Detroit  and  along  the  Sandusky,  Maumee,  and 
Wabash  rivers,  where  they  were  closely  under  British 
tutelage.  The  Shawnee  and  Delawares  of  the  nearer 
wilderness  had  not  yet  forgotten  the  battle  of  Point 
Pleasant  (1774),  and  for  the  time  adhered  to  their 


xii         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

treaty  with  the  Americans  made  in  1775  at  Pitts 
burgh — not  only  maintaining  neutrality,  but  proving 
their  friendliness  by  giving  timely  warnings  of  the 
approach  of  war  parties.  The  Delawares  in  particular 
acted  as  a  buffer  between  the  Americans  and  the 
Indian  allies  of  the  British.  Their  chiefs  went  fre 
quently  and  freely  to  Fort  Pitt,  and  the  Moravian 
missionaries  among  them  were  useful  agents  for  the 
colonial  cause. 

Had  the  frontiersmen  but  carefully  distinguished 
between  Indian  friends  and  foes,  and  kept  the  faith 
as  loyally  as  the  former,  much  trouble  might  have 
been  avoided.  There  was,  however,  a  savage  spirit 
among  the  rank  and  file  of  the  borderers,  that  did  no 
honor  to  the  American  cause.  Hand  was  obliged  con 
tinually  to  intervene  to  protect  the  lives  of  the  friendly 
Delawares,  for  he  had  reason  to  fear  their  massacre 
by  the  inhabitants  around  Fort  Pitt.  This  dispo 
sition  culminated  in  the  dastardly  murder  of  Chief 
Cornstalk,  with  three  of  his  tribe,  in  the  autumn  of 
1777,  while  they  were  detained  as  hostages  within  the 
walls  of  Fort  Randolph.  This  same  indiscriminately 
revengeful  disposition  broke  out  against  the  Loyalists, 
one  of  whose  leaders,  Hickson,  was  drowned  while  a 
prisoner,  apparently  by  the  connivance  of  the  militia 
officer  in  charge.  With  Cornstalk's  death  vanished 
the  hope  of  neutrality  for  the  Shawnee,  and  both  the 
Kentucky  settlements  and  the  Virginia  frontier  suf 
fered  repeatedly  from  the  avenging  fury  of  this  tribe. 

As  a  rule,  Indian  war-parties  against  the  American 
frontier  were  small.  They  sought  to  elude  the  garri 
sons,  penetrate  into  the  settlements  before  discovery, 


INTRODUCTION  xiii 

strike  a  quick  blow,  and  then  retire.  During  1777, 
however,  considerable  forces  of  the  aboriginal  enemy 
twice  appeared  on  the  border,  prepared  for  hostile 
operations  on  a  larger  scale  than  usual.  September  i, 
two  hundred  or  more  Indians  invested  Fort  Henry, 
determined,  as  White  Eyes  picturesquely  put  it,  "to 
carry  Wheeling  home"  to  the  native  towns.  Although 
forewarned  by  the  friendly  Delawares,  the  militia  offi 
cers  had  grown  careless,  dismissed  the  levies  that  had 
come  to  their  assistance,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
attack  had  less  than  a  hundred  men  within  the  stock 
ade.  The  siege  continued  during  two  exciting  days, 
at  the  close  of  which  the  persistent  enemy  withdrew, 
after  slaying  all  outlying  cattle  and  other  domestic 
animals. 

The  attack  on  Wheeling  aroused  the  county  militia 
of  both  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and  company  after 
company  poured  into  Fort  Pitt  to  do  garrison  duty  for 
the  outlying  posts.  Among  the  reinforcements  sent  to 
Fort  Henry  was  a  band  of  men  from  the  interior 
county  of  Hampshire,1  whose  inhabitants  had  for  a 
generation  been  free  from  Indian  ravages.  These  new 
comers  found  the  inaction  at  Wheeling  irksome. 
Toward  the  last  of  September,  forty-six  of  them, 
headed  by  their  officers,  started  on  a  scouting  expe 
dition  down  the  Ohio,  when  twenty-one  of  the  party 
lost  their  lives  in  a  native  ambush  at  McMechen's 
Narrows — the  event  known  in  border  history  as  the 
Foreman  Massacre.  For  some  time  after  this  unfor 
tunate  affair,  savage  raids  on  the  Wrestern  border  were 


1  Now  in  West  Virginia. 


xiv        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

less  frequent.  This  seems  to  have  been  due  to  the 
defeat  of  St.  Leger's  expedition,  and  the  terror  in 
spired  in  the  Western  tribesmen  by  Burgoyne's  sur 
render,  together  with  the  possibility  of  final  colonial 
triumph. 

In  the  frontiersman's  calendar,  winter  stood  for 
peace.  But  the  vengeance  to  be  feared  for  Cornstalk's 
murder  made  the  winter  of  1777-78  a  time  of  busy 
preparations  for  defense.  Hand  even  hoped  to  con 
duct  an  offensive  raid,  to  seize  some  stores  at  San- 
dusky,  and  thus  inflict  a  blow  on  the  British  fur-traders 
and  their  tribal  customers.  Collecting  a  small  force 
from  the  western  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  he  set 
forth  in  February  on  the  first  regular  expedition  into 
Indian  territory  since  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution. 
A  sudden  rise  of  the  waters  defeated  his  plans.  He 
penetrated  no  farther  than  Beaver  Creek,  where  he 
raided  two  Indian  camps,  inhabited  chiefly  by  squaws. 
This  expedition  was  thenceforth  derisively  known  as 
the  "Squaw  Campaign." 

During  the  winter,  Pittsburgh  and  its  vicinity  was 
a  hive  of  activity,  induced  by  preparations  for  three 
important  \Yestern  expeditions.  Documents  descrip 
tive  of  the  voyage  of  Gibson  and  Linn  to  New  Orleans, 
to  secure  powder,  were  presented  in  Volume  II  of  this 
series.  Encouraged  by  the  success  of  that  undertak 
ing,  and  by  the  strong  sympathy  with  the  Americans 
evinced  by  the  Spanish  authorities  at  New  Orleans, 
two  expeditions  outfitted  in  Pittsburgh  to  proceed  to 
the  lower  reaches  of  the  Mississippi.  One  originating 
in  Virginia,  was  led  by  Col.  David  Rogers  and  had  for 
its  object  the  procuring  of  supplies.  The  one  author- 


INTRODUCTION  xv 

ized  by  Congress  was  in  the  care  of  Capt.  James 
Willing;  this  was  bolder  in  scope,  and  embraced  a 
plan  to  seize  West  Florida  and  hold  that  region  for  the 
patriot  cause.  The  third  was  under  Col.  George 
Rogers  Clark,  a  pioneer  of  Kentucky ;  but  the  destina 
tion  of  this  expedition  was  as  yet  unrevealed.  Colonel 
Clark  himself  arrived  at  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Pitt 
early  in  February,  and  at  once  began  the  work  of  re 
cruiting,  boat-building,  and  provisioning.  Considerable 
opposition  was  manifested  by  the  inhabitants  to  de 
taching  men  from  this  exposed  frontier  at  so  critical  a 
juncture;  but  General  Hand  was  admitted  to  the  se 
cret  of  Clark's  intention  to  capture  the  British-French 
garrisons  in  the  Illinois,  and  quietly  aided  him  with 
such  supplies  and  support  as  he  could  furnish.  Not 
until  Clark  was  well  on  his  way  down  the  river  did  the 
news  of  the  French-American  alliance  reach  Pitts 
burgh.  This  important  fact  was  communicated  to  him 
with  all  speed,  and  no  doubt  contributed  materially  to 
his  success  among  the  French  of  the  Illinois. 

Meanwhile  communications  were  maintained  with 
the  Spanish  of  Louisiana.  In  February  a  message 
from  the  governor  of  New  Orleans  was  received  at 
Fort  Pitt;  but  as  no  one  there  was  able  to  translate 
this  document,  it  was  taken  to  Congress  by  Col.  George 
Morgan.  Even  in  this  body  no  satisfactory  translator 
could  be  found ;  consequently,  Morgan's  response, 
forwarded  by  Captain  Willing,  was  necessarily 
couched  in  vague  terms  of  friendship,  with  a  recapitu 
lation  of  the  colonial  victories  and  successes. 

Hand  had  in  view  for  the  spring  of  1778  another 
invasion  of  Indian  territory;  he  was  convinced  that 


xvi        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

nothing  else  would  prove  efficacious  in  subduing  the 
tribesmen.  At  first,  success  seemed  wholly  probable. 
But  among  the  men  surrounding  the  general  was  Col. 
Alexander  McKee,  formerly  an  Indian  agent,  but  long 
suspected  of  Loyalist  tendencies.  He  was  necessarily 
well-informed  of  Hand's  plans.  On  the  night  of 
March  28,  McKee  broke  the  parole  which  he  had 
given,  and  taking  with  him  several  confederates  and 
servants,  escaped  to  the  Indian  towns,  on  his  way  to 
place  and  preferment  under  the  British  flag. 

Hand  had  by  now  found  his  position  intolerable. 
Eager  to  serve  his  country,  he  was  satisfied  that,  with 
out  success,  he  had  done  all  that  any  man  might  in  the 
circumstances,  and  that  he  could  henceforth  be  more 
useful  in  the  Eastern  army.  A  new  commandant,  bet 
ter  supported  than  he  had  been,  might,  he  thought, 
win  laurels  on  the  Western  frontier.  His  petition  for 
a  recall  was  seconded  by  three  commissioners  then  at 
Fort  Pitt  investigating  the  situation  and  the  Loyalists' 
movements,  and  received  the  assent  of  Congress.  Gen. 
Lachlan  Mclntosh  was  thereupon  appointed  to  the 
West,  and  being  better  equipped  was  able  to  take  the 
offensive  from  Fort  Pitt  and  strike  an  effective  blow 
in  the  enemy's  country. 

Hand,  however,  had  ably  performed  a  difficult  ser 
vice.  At  a  critical  period  he  saved  the  frontier  from 
being  pushed  back  upon  the  colonies.  His  watchful 
care,  his  careful  husbanding  of  resources,  his  aid  to 
far  Western  expeditions,  and  his  successful  mainte 
nance  of  local  garrisons,  mark  his  administration  as 
one  of  vigor  and  efficiency.  His  command  at  Fort  Pitt 
is  memorable  in  the  annals  of  the  American  Revolu- 


INTRODUCTION  xvii 

tion.    Our  volume  closes  with  his  recall  to  the  Eastern 
field. 

In  addition  to  the  material  found  in  the  Draper 
Manuscripts  we  include  a  few  documents  from  other 
sources — some  letters  from  Col.  George  Morgan's 
letter-book,  the  transcripts  of  which  have  kindly  been 
furnished  to  us  by  Mr.  Harrison  W.  Graver,  librarian 
of  the  Carnegie  Library,  Pittsburgh ;  three  documents 
obtained  through  the  courteous  offices  of  Dr.  Arthur 
G.  Doughty,  from  the  Canadian  Archives  at  Ottawa; 
and  portions  of  the  Hand  letters  to  Yeates,  of  which 
accurate  transcripts  were  obligingly  sent  to  us  by  Dr. 
John  Billings,  director  of  the  New  York  Public  Li 
brary.  Our  acknowledgments  are  also  due  to  Dr. 
Victor  Hugo  Paltsits,  late  New  York  State  Historian, 
for  information  concerning  the  Oswego  Treaty  of 
1777. 

The  transcriptions  from  the  Draper  Manuscript  Col 
lection  are  largely  the  careful  work  of  Miss  Daisy  G. 
Beecroft,  of  the  Society's  Library  staff;  the  proof 
reading  has  been  under  the  expert  supervision  of  Miss 
Annie  A.  Nunns,  secretary  to  the  senior  Editor ;  and 
the  excellent  map  has  been  prepared  by  Miss  Mary 
Stuart  Foster,  also  of  the  Society's  staff. 

R.  G.  T. 
L.  P.  K. 


EXPLANATORY 


Following  the  names  of  the  writer  and  recipient  of 
each  document  is  given  its  press-mark  in  the  Draper 
Manuscript  Collection,  by  which  the  original  can  read 
ily  be  identified  if  its  further  consultation  is  desired. 
The  capital  letter  or  letters  refer  to  the  series  to  which 
the  document  belongs ;  the  volume  number  precedes 
the  series  letter,  the  folio  or  page  number  follows. 
E.g.,  the  press-mark  18857  means  Vol.  i  of  the 
Shepherd  Papers,  p.  57;  the  press-mark  49ji3  is 
equivalent  to  Vol.  49  of  the  George  Rogers  Clark 
MSS,  p.  13. 

Immediately  after  the  press-mark,  the  nature  of 
the  document  is  indicated  by  the  descriptive  initials 
customarily  employed  in  describing  manuscripts : 

A.  L. — autograph  letter  unsigned  (usually  a  draft 
in  the  author's  handwriting). 

A.  L.  S. — autograph  letter  signed. 

L.  S. — letter  signed  (text  being  in  another's  hand 
writing). 

D.  S. — document  signed. 


GENERAL  EDWARD  HAND 
'mm  Pcnnsvk'Ciiiui  Archives,  jd  scries,  x,  p.   14 


FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  THE 
UPPER  OHIO,  1777-1778 


HAND   TAKES   COMMAND   AT   FORT  PITT 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Col.  David  Shepherd.       18857— 
A.  L.  S.] 

Whereas  the  Honourable  the  Continental  Congress 
have  thought  proper  to  appoint  me  to  take  the  Com 
mand  on  the  Frontiers  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania1 
&  to  embody  such  of  the  Militia  as  I  shall  think  ade 
quate  to  the  Defence  of  the  Country.  And  whereas 
the  late  Murders  committed  by  the  Savages,  encour 
aged  &  supported  by  our  cruel  Enemies  evidently 
point  out  the  absolute  Necessity  of  a  perfect  union 
and  Harmony  amongst  the  Frontier  Inhabitants  in 
Defence  of  their  Lives,  Liberties  &  Properties 

I  do  hereby  declare,  that  in  Execution  of  the  Trust 
reposed  in  me,  I  shall  consider  those  persons  as  dan 
gerous  &  disaffected  to  the  American  Cause,  who  abet 
or  in  any  wise  foment  the  present  unhappy  disputes 
between  the  states  of  Virginia  &  Pennsylvania  to  the 


1  Concerning  General  Hand  and  his  appointment  to  com 
mand  at  Fort  Pitt,  see  Thwaites  and  Kellogg,  Revolution  on 
the  Upper  Ohio  (Madison,  1908),  p.  256.    He  arrived  June  I, 
escorted  by  a  troop  of  Westmoreland  lighthorse  militia. — ED. 
i 


2  "         FRbiSfttM  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

public  injury.2  The  Love  of  our  Country  will  I  trust, 
teach  us  to  forget  all  Invidious  distinctions  &  to  pay 
the  proper  attention  to  merit,  unconfined  to  Party,  we 
shall  do  the  most  essential  Service  to  the  Common 
weal  by  Carefully  avoiding  the  giving  any  just  cause 
of  offence  to  the  Indians.  Should  a  General  war  with 
the  savages  be  inevitable,  I  have  the  highest  Confi 
dence  in  the  fortitude  of  the  Militia  &  their  Zeal  for 
the  public  Service,  which  Comprehends  their  dearest 
Interests.  The  knowledge  I  have  formed  of  the  Coun 
try  &  its  Inhabitants  by  a  long  residence  at  Fort  Pitt, 
renders  my  present  Command  highly  pleasing  to  me.3 
Happy  should  I  be  if  I  can  Conduce  by  my  Labours  to 
the  Safety  of  the  Frontier.  Congress  hath  directed 
the  removal  of  the  Continental  Troops  from  this  Quar 
ter  except  the  300  Men  to  be  stationed  at  Forts  Pitt, 
Randolph  &  the  Kittanning4  as  these  Companies  are 
not  yet  Compleated;  I  expect  you  will  be  pleased  to 


2  For   the    boundary    dispute    between    Virginia    and    Penn 
sylvania,  each  claiming  the  site  of  Pittsburgh,  see  Ibid,  pp.  18, 
19. — ED. 

3  General    Hand    came    to    America    in    1767    with   the    i8th 
(or    Royal    Irish)    regiment,    two   companies   of   which    were 
stationed  at  Fort  Pitt  1768-72.    There  Hand  purchased  a  com 
mission    as    ensign    in    the    regiment,    which    he    resigned   two 
years  later  to  settle  in  Lancaster,  Pa. — ED. 

4  Fort   Pitt  was  built  not   far  from  the  site  of  the  French 
Fort  Duquesne  not  long  after  the  evacuation  of  the  former, 
and  was  garrisoned  by  British  troops  until  1772,  when  it  was 
abandoned    by    them.      In    January,    1774,    it    was    restored 
by  Virginia  authority  and  rechristened  Fort   Dunmore,  after 
the    governor    of    that   colony.      At   the    close   of    Dunmore's 
War   it  was  again   evacuated,   until   garrisoned   by   American 
troops  under  Col.  John  Neville  in  the  summer  of  1775. 

For  Fort  Randolph,  see  Thwaites  and  Kellogg,  Dunmore's 
War  (Madison,  1905),  p.  310,  note  27;  for  Kittanning,  Rer. 
Upper  Ohio,  p.  200,  note  39. — ED. 


HAND  TAKES  COMMAND  3 

take  the  most  effectual  methods  in  your  Power  to  have 
the  posts  directed  to  be  occupied  on  the  Frontiers  by 
the  late  Board  of  Officers,  kept  up  untill  some  more 
advantageous  regulation  can  take  place.  If  in  the 
mean  Time  any  pressing  Occasion  should  demand  an 
additional  number  of  the  Militia  I  hope  they  will  be 
in  readiness  to  march  on  the  shortest  Notice. 

I  rely  greatly  on  your  activity  &  public  Zeal  &  have 
the  Honour  to  be  Yr.  most  obed*.  &  most  Hble.  Serv*. 

EwDd  HAND  B.  G. 

FORT  PITT  June  3d.  1777. 

On  public   Service  to  Col.   David  Shepherd  at  the  Mouth 
of  Wheeling  Ohio  County  Virginia.3 


FRONTIER  POSTS  ON  THE  OHIO 

[Memorandum,  unsigned.      iU54.] 

FORT  PITT  June  ye  3d  1777 

Memorandum  for  General  Hand  of  the  Difrent 
Post[s]  from  Wheeling  to  the  Great  Kanhaway 

The  Kittaning  50  Mile  from  this  Post  Garrisond. 
by  on[e]  Company  of  the  Western  Battallion  of  Con- 
tinentall  Troops  and  a  Compy  ordered  from  the  West 
moreland  Militia  to  Releve  them6 

A  small  Guard  of  men  Consisting  of  nine  at  a  Stock- 
aid  Built  at  Munters  bottom  by  the  Adgecent  [adja 
cent]  inhabitants, 


5  For  David   Shepherd,   at   this  time  county-lieutenant   for 
the  newly-erected  Ohio  County,  see  Ibid,  p.  196,  note  30. — ED. 

6  The  8th  Pennsylvania  regiment  marched  from  Kittanning 
in  December,  1776,  leaving  one  company  to  garrison  the  fort 
at  that  place.     This  was  an  independent  company  under  com 
mand  of  Capt.    Samuel  Moorhead.     See   a  letter  dated  June 
4,    1777,   from   General   Hand  to   Colonel   Lochry,   concerning 
supplies    for   this    post,    in    Mrs.    Mary    C.    Darlington,    Fort 
Pitt    and    Letters    from     the    Frontier     (Pittsburgh,     1892), 
p.  223.— ED. 


4     FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

at  a  place  Calld.  Rordons  bottom  about  40  Miles  be 
low  this  post  an  Officer  and  15  men 

at  the  Mouth  of  Yellow  Creek7  fifteen  Miles  below 
the  Last  mentioned  Place  Built  by  the  inhabitants  an 
officer  and  20  men 

at  the  Mingo  Bottom8  20  below  Yellow  Creek  a 
Lieut,  of  the  Regelers  and  18  men,  to  be  releved  if  not 
alredy  don  by  Milititia 

at  Wheeling9  a  Company  of  Boutt  [Botetourt?] 
Militia 

at  the  Mouth  of  Grave  Creek  twelve  Miles  below 
Wheeling  a  Company  of  Ohio  County  Militia10 


7  Yellow  Creek  was  the  scene  of  the  massacre  of  Logan's 
family,   three   years   before   the    building   of   this    fort.     See 
Dunmore's  War,  pp.  17-19. — ED. 

8  Mingo  Bottom  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  Ohio,  where 
the  town  of  Mingo  Junction  now  is.     Probably  the  fort  was 
opposite,  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the  river,  which  may  like 
wise  have  been  called  Mingo  Bottom.     The  locality  took  its 
name  from  a  town  of  Mingo  Indians  established  there  during 
the  French  and  Indian  War.     Croghan  in  1765  speaks  of   it 
as   a   "Seneca   village"   on   a  high  bank  on   the   north   shore. 
When  Washington  passed  in   1770  there  were  twenty  cabins 
and    about    seventy    inhabitants.      Rev.    David   Jones    in    1772 
says  the  people  of  this  town  were  wont  to  plunder  canoes, 
and  that  he  was  happy  enough  to  pass  in  the  night  undiscov 
ered.     The  raiding  of  this  band  of  robbers  was  one  of  the 
inciting  causes  of  Dunmore's  War.     Before  that  war  they  had 
abandoned  their  town  near  Cross  Creek,  and  retreated  to  the 
headwaters  of  the  Scioto.     There  Wood  visited  them  the  fol 
lowing  year — see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  48,  note  77;  also  p.  217. 
The  locality  of  their  former  town  on  the  Ohio  retained  its 
name.     It  was  the  rendezvous  both  for  the  Moravian  expedi 
tion  and  that  of  Crawford  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Revolu 
tion.    An  important  Indian  trail  led  thence  to  the  Muskingum 
towns;  hence  the  necessity  of  the  garrison  here  noted. — ED. 

9  For    the    garrison    at    Wheeling,    see    Rev.    Upper    Ohio, 
pp.  232,  242-244.— ED. 

10  For  this  garrison,  commanded  by  Capt.  William  Harrod, 
see  Ibid,  index.     It  was  abandoned  in  July,   1777,  the  troops 
being  concentrated  at  Wheeling. — ED. 


MURDER  BY  INDIANS  5 

at  the  Great  Kanhaway  2  Compy.  of  Regalors  one 
hundred  Each  to  releve  by  Militia11 


NEWS  FROM  FORT  PITT 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.     Original  MS.  in  New 
York  Public  Library;    Hand  Papers^2— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  ioth.  of  June  1777 

DEAR  YEATES — Since  I  wrote  to  Kitty13  by  Col : 
Morgan14  nothing  has  happened  in  this  part  of  the 
World  worth  notice  except  the  murder  of  One  man 
on  the  evening  of  the  7th.  Instant  at  wheeling15,  I  sup 
pose  by  a  part  of  the  Pluggys  town  Gang16,  the 


11  For  a   sketch  of   Fort   Randolph,   at   the   mouth  of   the 
Great  Kanawha  River,  see  Ibid,  p.  185,  note  18.     Of  the  two 
companies    one    was    from    Virginia,    under    Capt.    Matthew 
Arbuckle;  one  from  Pennsylvania,  under  Capt.  John  Robin 
son.      Ibid,  pp.  230,  231,  239-241. — ED. 

12  A   portion   of   the   Hand   Papers   which    are   among  the 
Draper  MSS.   are  in  the  form  of  transcripts  made  in   1852 
by  Dr.  Draper.     The  originals  of  a  number  of  these,  how 
ever,    are    now    in    the    New    York    Public    Library,    whose 
director,  Dr.  John  S.  Billings,  has  kindly  furnished  us  with 
fresh  transcripts  thereof,  and  these  are  followed  in  the  pres 
ent  volume. 

For  a  brief  sketch  of  Jasper  Yeates,  who  was  commissioner 
for  the  treaty  of  1775,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  191,  note 
25.— ED. 

13  Kitty  (Catherine  Ewing)   was  Mrs.  Edward  Hand.     She 
was  a  niece  of  Jasper  Yeates,  whose  sister  Sarah  was  her 
mother.     General  Hand  was  married  in  1775;  his  wife  died 
in  1805,  aged  fifty-four  years. — ED. 

14  George  Morgan,  Indian  agent,  who  had  gone  to  Phila 
delphia  to  consult  with  Congress  on  the  Indian  situation.    For 
a  sketch,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  31,  note  59. — ED. 

15  The  man  whose  murder  is  here  mentioned  was  Thomas 
McCleary,  a  member  of  Captain  Van  Meter's  company,  who 
with  one  comrade  had  gone  fishing  up  Wheeling  Creek.     For 
details,  see  Pennsylvania  Archives,  ist  series,  v,  p.  445. — ED. 

16  For  the  hostilities  committed  by  this  band  of  Indians  and 
the   expedition    against   their  town   planned   and   then   aban 
doned,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  passim. — ED. 


6     FRONTIER  DEFENSE  OX  UPPER  OHIO 

Chiefs  of  the  wiandots  &  Mingos  are  expect [ed]  to 
Assemble  here  towards  the  end  of  next  month,  hope 
that  nest  may  be  removed.  I  have  seen  an  Address 
from  some  of  the  Principle  Inhabitants  of  Philada  to 
the  Inhabitants  of  Westmoreland,  inclosing  A  Coppy 
of  one  to  the  Board  of  War  &  Assembly  of  Pennsyl 
vania,  &  the  Boards  Ansr  when  I  saw  it  there  was 
but  two  Signers.  I  am  tomorrow  to  Attend  A  Gen1. 
Meeting  of  Militia  Officers  at  Catfish's  Camp17.  it  is 
not  improbable  that  the  Congress  will  send  Commis 
sioners  to  meet  the  indians  at  the  Approaching  Treaty 
I  beg  my  love  to  every  body  &  am  Dr.  Yeates  most 
Affectionately  yours 

EDwd.  HAND 
Jasper  Yeates  Esq1'. 

A  great  Part  of  the  most  Valuable  stores  are  Arived 
the  remr.  to  be  at  Hanna's  Town18  to  dav.     the  Gar- 


17  Catfish's  Camp  was  the  early  name  for  the  white  settle 
ment   on   the    site   of    the   present   town   of   Washington,    Pa. 
The  land  was  taken  up  as  early  as   1768,  and  a  small  settle 
ment    developed,    which    was    augmented    during    the    Indian 
troubles   by   removals    from   the   Ohio.     The   name   is  said  to 
have  been  given  in  honor  of  Catfish,  a  Delaware  Indian  who 
had  his  village   in  this  vicinity.    At  the   council   of  war  held 
at   this   place,   it   was   decided  that   200   men,   properly   armed 
and  officered,  should  be  drafted  to  relieve  the  militia  then  on 
duty.      June    27,    the    Monongalia    officers   held    a    council    to 
make   preparations   to   carry   out  this   draft.      Draper   MSS., 
iU6o.— ED. 

18  Hannastown    was   an    important    station    on    the    road   to 
Pittsburgh,  being  located  at  the  junction  of  Forbes's  road  with 
an  Indian  trail  to  the  Kiskiminitas.     In  1773  it  was  made  the 
seat  of  the  newly-erected  county  of  Westmoreland,  and  was 
the    first    seat    of    justice    west    of    the    Alleghanies.      During 
1774-78  it  rivalled  Pittsburgh  in  importance.    In  1782  the  town 
was  captured  and  completely  destroyed  by  a  marauding  band 
of    Indians.      Although    partially    rebuilt,    and    remaining   the 
county   seat   until    1786,    it   never   regained  its   earlier   impor 
tance. — ED. 


AN  INDIAN  COUNCIL  7 

rison   not   Better   Supplied   with   provision   than   you 
found  it. 

Give  me  leave  to  introduce  Col :  Russell  the  Com 
mandant  of  the  West  Augusta  Battalion  a  very  worthy 
man19.  Jessy  is  Well  &  Desires  his  love20. 

ED.  H. 


COUNCIL  AT  DETROIT 

[Official  report  of  Hamilton.      49ji3—  D.  S.21] 

Extract  from  the  Council  held  at  Detroit  by  the  fol- 

loiving  Nations  —  Ottawas,  Hurons,  Chippewas,  Pou- 

teouattamis,  Miamis,  Shaivanese,  Delawares,  Ottawas 

from    Ouashtanon,    Pouteouattamis    of    Sl.    Joseph22 


DETROIT  17th  June  1777 

Governor  Hamilton  opened  the  Council  in  the  usual 
form  ;  and  then  inform'd  the  different  nations  of  his 


19  For  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  Col.  William  Russell, 
see  Dunui  ore's  War,  p.  6,  note  9. — ED. 

20  Jasper   (called  Jesse)   Ewing  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Ed 
ward  Hand,  and  was  born  in  1753  at  Lancaster.     In  1/76,  he 
joined    the    Continental    army,    and    being    commissioned    a 
second-lieutenant,    took   part    in   the   battle    of    Long   Island. 
When   General   Hand  went  to  Pittsburgh,  he  took  with  him 
as  aide-de-camp  his  brother-in-law,  who  had  been  promoted 
to   be    brigade-major.     After   the    Revolution,    Major    Ewing 
removed    to    Northumberland    County,    where    he    served    as 
prothonotary,  and  died  in  1800. — ED. 

21  This  manuscript  report  of  the  council   was  prepared  at 
the  instigation  of  Gov.  Henry  Hamilton   (for  whom  see  Rev. 
Upper  Ohio,  p.  135,  note  36),  signed  by  himself,  and  captured 
when    Vincennes    was   taken   by    Col.    George    Rogers    Clark 
(Feb.  24,  1779).     Clark  kept  the  paper,  which  passed  with  his 
collection  to  the  keeping  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Society. 
Hamilton's    brief    letter    on    this    subject,    to    his    superior   at 
Quebec,  is  printed  in  Wis,  Hist.  Colls.,  xii,  p.  45. — ED. 

22  For    these    tribes,    formerly    allies    of    the    French,    but 
now  of  the  British  government  of  Canada,  see  Rev.   Upper 
Ohio,  index. — ED. 


8  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

intent  in  calling  them  together ;  which  he  sd.  was  prin 
cipally  to  strengthen  the  alliance  he  form'd  with  them 
last  year23,  to  inform  them  of  what  had  come  to  his 
knowledge  regarding  them,  to  know  their  sentiments 
and  lastly  to  be  of  any  service  to  them  that  lay  in  his 
power. 

The  Kings  Health  was  then  drank  by  all  present. 
Then  some  Belts  from  the  Six  Nations  address'd  to 
the  Western  Confederacy  were  shewn  &  explained. 
Chiefly  exhortations  to  their  Brethren  to  fullfill  the 
many  promises  they  had  made  &  the  Engagements 
they  had  enterd  into  to  support  His  Majesty  &  Gov 
ernment.24  Govr.  Hamilton  then  gave  them  an  ac 
count  of  the  great  Success  of  His  Majestys  Arms 
over  his  rebellious  Subjects  in  many  places,  &  of  their 
obstinate  disobedience,  of  their  threats  regarding  the 
Indians,  &  lastly  that  their  Brethren  from  Michili- 
mackinac,25  &  the  Six  Nations  &c.  were  permitted  & 
had  taken  up  the  Hatchet,  and  finish'd  by  telling 
them  he  would  next  day  inform  them  of  his  real  Sen 
timents.  The  Indians  thank'd  him  for  what  he  in- 


23  See  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  202.— ED. 

24  The  Six  Nations  (Iroqtiois)  were  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolution  inclined  to  remain  neutral.   Several  chiefs  attended 
the  treaty  at   Pittsburgh  in   1775    (Ibid,  pp.  25-135,    159-167), 
and  the  Seneca  in  particular  were  favorable  to  the  American 
cause.     The    British   agents    from   Canada,    however,   exerted 
their  influence  to  good  effect.     Col.  Guy  Johnson  wrote  that 
in  April,   1777,  the  Six  Nations  had  called  in  and  assembled 
all  of  their  people  in  order  to  make  a  diversion  on  the  fron 
tiers  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  agreeable  to  the  mes 
sages    he    had    sent.      See    N.    Y.    Colonial   Documents,    viii, 
pp.  711,  712. — ED. 

25  For    the    Indians    at    Mackinac    and    their   gathering    for 
assistance  to  the  British,  see  Wis.  Hist.  Colls.,  xviii,  pp.  357, 
358,  and  references  there  cited. — ED. 


AN  INDIAN  COUNCIL  9 

formd  them  of  &  said  when  they  heard  his  sentiments 
next  day,  he  should  know  theirs. 

1 8  June  Being  assembled  as  before,  G[overnor] 
H[amilton]  Told  the  English  &  french  Gentlemen, 
that  he  was  authorised  to  put  the  Hatchet  into  the 
Hands  of  the  Indians,  and  expected  an  implicit  obe 
dience  to  the  orders  of  His  Majesty.26  He  then  in- 
formd  the  Indians  of  what  he  thought  they  should  do 
upon  the  occasion,  shewed  them  the  Hatchet  then 
Sung  the  War  Song — as  did  Mr  Hay,  Depu^  agent,27 
the  officers  of  the  Garrison,  all  the  Nations  present,  & 
some  of  the  French  &  English.  G[overnor]  Hamilton 
then  thanked  them  for  their  Zeal  and  Unanimity,  & 
adjournd  to  the  open  Field,  to  a  feast  prepared  for 
the  purpose,  and  appointed  next  morning  to  meet  three 
or  four  Chiefs  of  each  Nation  to  meet  him  at  his  own 
House. 

19th  Being  assembled  according  to  adjournment, 
Govr.  Hamilton  gave  some  things  &  Belts  of 
Wamfpum]  to  cover  &  bury  in  oblivion  the  Murder  of 
an  Ottawa,  killd  here  last  winter  by  a  Chippawa,  to 


26  Hamilton's    orders    from    headquarters    must    have    ar 
rived  between  the  I5th  and  i8th  of  June.    On  the  former  date 
he  wrote  Carleton  that  the  Indians  had  come  to  council  and 
he  should  retain  them  as  long  as  possible,  pending  orders; 
see  Wis.  Hist.  Colls.,  xii,  p.  46.    These  orders  were  sent  from 
Quebec,   May  2ist;     see   letter   of   Carleton,   with   enclosure 
from  Lord  George  Germaine,  Id,  xi,  pp.  175,  176,  giving  ex 
plicit  directions  to  urge  the  Western  nations  upon  the  war 
path.     As  this  was  in  response  to  a  request  from  Hamilton 
to   be   permitted   to    do   so,    it   may   be   considered   that   the 
project  originated  at  Detroit,  and  this  partially  accounts  for 
the    frontier    hatred    of    Hamilton,    who    was    called    "hair- 
buyer,"    because    of    his    custom    of    paying    for    American 
scalps. — ED. 

27  For  Jehu  Hay,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  130,  note  27. — ED. 


10          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

prevent  any  animosity  from  existing  after  they  had  so 
unanimously  joined  to  take  up  the  Hatchet.  Then  in 
formed  them  of  a  Message  the  Chiefs  of  the  Miamees 
recd.  the  night  before ;  Shewing  the  perfidy  of  the  Vir 
ginians,  &  the  threats  they  had  made  use  of  against 
the  Indian  Nations  in  general  and  the  Kings  Troops  at 
this  place  ending  with  a  declaration  of  their  not  want 
ing  to  be  at  peace  with  the  one  or  the  other.  The  Mi- 
amee  Chiefs  declared  this  to  be  the  purport  of  the 
Message  sent  them  by  their  Nation.  The  Huron  Na 
tion  was  then  pitched  upon  by  all  the  rest  to  be  the 
guardians  of  the  Hatchet  ;28  all  declaring  they  had 
taken  it  up  with  an  intent  to  hold  it  fast,  untill  desired 
to  lay  it  down.  Equeshawey29  then  expressed  his  hap 
piness  at  seeing  all  his  Brethren  the  Indians  so  unani 
mous — that  he  had  just  arrived  from  the  Wabach 
where  he  had  been  to  conduct  his  Father  Gfovernor] 
Abbott30  that  he  had  not  seen  anything  bad  on  his  voy- 


28  Americans  called  the  Huron  Indians,  Wyandot.    See  Ibid, 
p.  36,  note  62. — ED. 

29  An  Ottawa  chief,  head  of  the  tribe  residing  near  Detroit. 
He  was   a    faithful    adherent   of  the   British,   attended   all   of 
their   councils,    and    accompanied    Hamilton    to    Vincennes    in 
1778.      He   was   in    the    town    when    Clark    arrived   there,   but 
escaped   with    Tsadore   Chene.      In    1794,  he   was   wounded   at 
Fort  Recovery,  but  was  able  to  take  part  in  the  battle  against 
Wayne.     The  following  year  he  signed  the  treaty  of  Green 
ville.     The  last  mention  noted  was  in   1808,  so  that  he  prob 
ably  died  before  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe. — En. 

;^°  Edward  Abbott  was  a  British  artillery  officer.  He  came 
early  to  the  Northwest,  being  in  Detroit  soon  after  the  close 
of  the  French  regime.  In  1775  he  was  commissioned  Indian 
agent  for  the  Crown  on  the  Ohio ;  and  in  the  spring  of  1777 
was  sent  to  command  at  Vincennes,  where  he  was  the  first 
and  only  British  governor.  He  remained  there  less  than  a 
year,  being  summoned  to  Detroit  in  February,  1/78.  While 
at  Vincennes  he  built  Fort  Sackvillc,  which  was  captured  in 


AN  INDIAN  COUNCIL  11 

age ;  on  the  contrary  all  the  Nations  shew'd  an  inclina 
tion  to  obey  the  will  of  their  Father.  G[overnor] 
H[amilton]  thankd  them  all  &  particularly  the  Hu- 
rons  as  Guardians  of  the  Ax  &  appointed 

20  G[overnor]  H[amilton]  told  the  difP.  Nations 
the  Method  he  thought  they  should  proceed  in  in  mak 
ing  war  and  informd  them  of  the  difP.  armeys  that 
were  to  attack  the  Rebells  this  Summer  which  he  de 
sired  them  to  consider  of  &  let  him  know  the  Chiefs 
&  Warriors  ready  to  go,  &  also  to  name  a  Chief  or  two 
&  some  young  Men  to  go  to  Niagara  where  they  would 
see  their  Bren.  the  Six  Nations  &c.  &c.  were  acting  the 
same  part — adjourd.  till  next  day. 

21st  According  to  adjournment,  the  above  Nations 
came  &  named  their  \Yar  Chief  &  young  men  then 
ready  for  war,  and  an  ax  was  presented  for  each  Na 
tion  to  be  delivd.  when  they  all  should  meet  in  a  day  or 
two  Ll  Caldwell31  was  named  to  accopn.  the  few  that 


1779  by  Clark.  In  July,  1778,  Abbott  was  recalled  from  the 
West  and  sent  by  General  Haldimand  to  the  West  Indies. 
His  name  appears  in  the  army  lists  until  1788.  At  the  time 
he  commanded  at  Vincennes,  Abbott  was  captain-lieutenant. 
He  seems  to  have  been  a  brave  and  humane  officer.  His  pro 
test  to  Haldimand  against  the  employment  of  Indians  on  the 
frontiers  does  him  credit.  See  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls., 
ix,  pp.  488,  489.  His  letters  from  Vincennes  are  printed  in 
///.  Hist.  Colls.,  i,  pp.  313-318. — ED. 

31  William  Caldwell  was  an  Irishman  and  came  to  Pennsyl 
vania  before  the  Revolution.  Having  taken  part  in  Dun- 
more's  \Var,  he  was,  after,  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution, 
employed  by  Lord  Dunmore  to  carry  dispatches ;  and  suc 
ceeded  in  escaping  from  the  Americans  and  reaching  Niagara. 
There  he  raised  a  company  for  Butler's  Rangers,  which  was 
sent  in  1776  to  Detroit.  The  following  year  (probably  at  the 
time  indicated  in  this  document),  Caldwell  was  sent  back  to 
Niagara,  where  he  participated  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Stanwix 
and  the  raids  against  Wyoming  and  Cherry  Valley.  In  1781 


12          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

were  going  to  Niagara  Jehu  Hay  D1*.  [deputy] 
agent  to  conduct  the  whole  when  they  acted  in  a  body, 
&  many  others  who  had  offerd  to  serve  his  Majesty 
upon  this  occasion,  to  accompany  them  when  in  small 
parties.  G[overnor]  Hfamilton]  then  as  upon  several 
other  occasions  recommended  it  to  all  the  Nations  to 
remember  they  were  men,  &  were  desired  to  make  war 
against  men,  and  not  against  women  or  Children,  and 
to  forbear  to  dip  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  the  two 
latter — adjourn'd  to  Monday  23d.  but  it  being  bad 
weather  &  some  other  Indians  being  arrived  did  not 
meet  till  24th 

G[overnor]    H[amilton]    Returned    thanks    to    the 
Chiefs  &  young  men  for  their  orderly  behaviour  since 


he  returned  to  Detroit,  and  in  the  summer  of  the  next  year 
was  commander  of  the  force  that  defeated  Col.  William 
Crawford  at  Sandusky,  wherein  Caldwell  was  himself 
wounded.  After  recovering  he  went  out  with  the  army  that 
in  1782  penetrated  Kentucky,  besieged  Bryant's  Station,  and 
defeated  the  Americans  at  Blue  Licks.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  Caldwell  was  retained  in  the  British  Indian  depart 
ment,  and  is  said  to  have  been  in  the  army  that  was  defeated 
in  1794  by  Wayne.  Upon  the  American  occupation  of  De 
troit,  Caldwell  removed  to  Maiden  and  laid  out  a  town  near 
the  mouth  of  the  river.  Here  he  was  justice  of  the  peace 
and  colonel  of  the  militia.  In  1812  he  was  quartermaster 
general  and  associated  with  General  Brock  in  the  capture  of 
Detroit.  In  1814,  upon  the  retirement  of  Matthew  Elliott, 
Caldwell  was  made  superintendent  of  the  British  Indian  de 
partment,  from  which  office  he  retired  two  years  later,  after 
a  disagreement  with  the  military  commandant.  Caldwell  was 
popular  with  the  Indians,  and  his  half-breed  son,  Billy  Cald 
well,  became  a  Potawatomi  chief.  His  other  sons  (William, 
James,  and  Thomas)  served  under  the  British  in  the  War  of 
1812-15.  Two  of  them,  were  still  living  in  1863,  and  related 
to  Dr.  Draper  incidents  from  their  father's  career  (Draper 
MSS.,  17  S).  The  elder  Caldwell  died  in  1822  at  his  Canadian 
home,  aged  seventy-five  years.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
noted  border  partisans  of  the  West. — ED. 


AN  INDIAN  COUNCIL  13 

the  commencement  of  the  Council — then  shewed  them 
English  &  french  Gentlemen  who  had  offered  to  serve 
as  Officers  &  private  men  upon  this  occasion.  Then 
delivd.  a  War  Hatchet  to  each  Nation  which  they 
receivd  &  Sung  the  War  Song  then  some  Merchandize 
was  shewn  them  destined  to  Cover  their  old  men 
women  &  Children,  &  G[overnor]  H[amilton]  told 
them  they  should  be  furnish'd  with  ammunition  &c. 
necessary  for  their  Y*.  Men  Gfoverrior]  Hfamilton] 
delivered  them  his  thanks  for  their  unanimity  &  pro 
fessions  of  friendship,  and  as  soon  as  the  division  of 
prests  was  over  G[overnor]  H[amilton]  told  them  he 
would  give  each  nation  a  Bullock  to  make  a  feast  & 
would  visit  them  turn  about  beginning  with  the  Otta- 
was  then  closed  the  Councik 

Since32  the  closing  the  council,  I  have  been  at  the 
War  feast  of  each  nation,  and  the  greatest  decency 
and  alacrity  has  appeared.  3Oth.  of  June  most  of  the 
Nations  had  brought  in  their  Sticks  for  the  number  of 
Warriors,33  and  in  a  Month  I  dont  question  one  thou 
sand  Warriors  going  against  the  Frontiers,  at  the 
same  time  I  have  exhorted  them  to  act  vigorously,  I 
have  endeavored  to  teach  them  to  spare  Old  Age 
Women  and  Children 

HENRY  HAMILTON 
Endorsed:  Extract  of  a  Council  held  at  DETROIT  17  June  1777. 


32  The  following  paragraph  was  written  by  Hamilton,  and 
closes  with  his  autograph  signature. — ED. 

33  This  was  the  Indian  method  of  making  an  official  count. 
At  treaties,  councils,  or  where  presents  or  annuities  were  to 
be  paid,  one  stick  was  presented  to  the  agent  for  each  mem 
ber  of  an  Indian  family.     Hamilton  means  at  this  point  that 
the  chiefs  gave  him  an  enumeration  of  the  number  of  war 
riors  ready  to  take  the  field. — ED. 


14          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

HAMILTON'S  PROCLAMATION 

[Hamilton  to  American  frontiersmen.      45J62 — D.  S.] 

DETROIT  24th  June,  1777. 

By  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  to  me  given 
by  his  Excellency  Sir  Guy  Carleton  Knight  of  the 
Bath,  Governor  of  the  province  of  Quebec,  General 
and  Commandant  in  chief,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

I  do  assure  all  such  as  are  inclined  to  withdraw 
themselves  from  the  Tyranny  and  oppression  of  the 
rebel  Committees,  &  take  refuge  in  this  Settlement,  or 
any  of  the  Posts  commanded  by  his  Majesty's  Officers, 
shall  be  humanely  treated,  shall  be  lodged  and  vic 
tualled,  and  such  as  come  off  in  arms  &  shall  use  them 
in  defence  of  his  Majesty  against  Rebels  and  Traytors, 
'till  the  extinction  of  this  rebellion,  shall  receive  pay 
adequate  to  their  former  Stations  in  the  rebel  service, 
and  all  common  men  who  shall  serve  during  that  per 
iod,  shall  receive  his  Majesty's  bounty  of  two  hun 
dred  acres  of  Land. 

Given  under  my  hand  &  Seal      God  save  the  King 

HENRY  HAMILTON, 
Lieut1.  Govr:  and  Superintendent31 


EVENTS  NEAR  FORT  PITT 

[Calendar  of  letters  and  documents.      iUs6,  58,  59;     3NN46, 
June  19-30.] 

June   19.     David   Shepherd   writes   from   Wheeling 
that  "the  Indians  has  not  come  to  see  us  Since  our 


34  A  number  of  these  proclamations  were  prepared  by 
Hamilton,  and  given  to  the  custody  of  the  Indian  bands  at 
tacking  the  frontiers  of  the  colonies.  They  left  them  on 
doorsteps,  and  beside  the  bodies  of  their  victims.  See  letters 
post. — ED. 


DEPREDATIONS  CONTINUE  15 

Meeting  at  the  Council  [at  Catfish  Camp],  and  hope 
they  Never  May  until  we  are  Ready  to  Return  them 
the  Compliment." 

The  same  day,  Samuel  Moorhead  writes  from  the 
fort  at  Kittanning  that  he  finds  the  garrison  badly  off 
for  stores  and  shelter,  and  that  the  fort  is  commanded 
by  a  hill  two  or  three  hundred  feet  distant. 

June  21.  Pluggy's  Town  gang,  led  by  that  Indian's 
son,  of  whose  approach  the  Delaware  Chief  Killbuck3-"' 
had  warned  General  Hand,  killed  two  men  on  Alle 
gheny  River  about  twenty  miles  above  Pittsburgh. 
Hand  thinks  no  remedy  will  be  efficacious  but  a  coun 
ter  stroke  upon  their  town. 

June  22.  \Yilliam  Zane36  writes  from  Fort  Henry 
that  being  more  than  sixty  years  old,  with  a  constitu 
tion  much  shattered  by  five  years'  captivity  in  Brad- 
dock's  war,  the  loss  of  his  negro  carried  off  by  the 
Indians  deprives  him  of  means  of  support.  He  re- 


35  For  a  brief  biography  of  this  chief,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio, 
p.  38,  note  64.     Throughout  the  early  years  of  the  war,  he 
was   a   staunch   friend   of  the   American   colonists,   and    fre 
quently    warned    them    of    the    approach    of    hostile    Indian 
bands. — ED. 

36  William    Zane    was    probably    the    father    of    the    well- 
known  Zane  brothers,  the  first  settlers  of  Wheeling.    William 
was  a  descendant  of  Robert  Zane,  who  emigrated  to  America 
in  1673  and  settled  at  Newton,  N.  J.     It  is  supposed  that  the 
latter's   first   wife,   grandmother   of   William,   was   of   Indian 
origin.     William  was  born  in   1712.     Breaking  with  the  sect 
of  Quakers  to  which  his  ancestors  belonged,  he  removed  to 
the   South   branch   of  the    Potomac,   in   the  present   Berkeley 
County,  West  Virginia.     His  son  Isaac  was  captured  at  this 
place,  possibly  at  the  time  of  the  captivity  of  which  his  father 
speaks.     The  other  sons,  Ebenezer,  Silas,  Jonathan,  and  An 
drew,     were    early    upon    the    Ohio,    and    all    settled    near 
Wheeling. — ED. 


16  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

quests  General  Hand  to  secure  the  return  of  this  man 
if  the  Indians  make  peace. 

June  30.  General  Hand  writes  to  his  wife:  "Noth 
ing  bad  has  yet  happened  since  the  affair  of  the  2ist. 
A  number  of  Chippewas  &  Thawa  [Ottawa]  Indians 
have  been  here  to  profess  much  friendship;  they  also 
offered  their  mediation  to  remove  the  banditti  that  in 
fests  our  frontier,  which  I  accepted  with  pleasure." 


VIRGINIA  MILITIA  ORDERED  OUT 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      I5ZZ;— L.  S.] 

WlLLIAMSBURG  July  3'd    1777. 

SIR — By  the  constitution  of  this  Commonwealth  no 
Militia  can  be  embody'd  but  by  orders  from  the  Exe 
cutive  Power,  except  in  Case  of  Invasion  or  Insurrec 
tion;  and  when  embody'd  such  Militia  is  under  the 
sole  Direction  of  the  Governour.  I  do  not  make  this 
observation  with  any  View  to  counteract  you,  very  far 
otherwise.  I  shall  be  made  happy  in  forwarding  your 
Designs  to  protect  and  secure  the  Frontiers  from  those 
dangerous  Incursions  by  means  of  which  our  People 
suffer  so  much,  and  so  great  Diversion  is  made  of  our 
best  Men  from  the  main  Object.  But  I  am  constrained 
by  my  Duty,  by  the  Oath  of  my  Office,  to  claim  the 
supreme  command  of  all  the  Militia  which  are  or  may 
be  embody'd  in  the  State.  Altho'  I  do  this  on  the  pres 
ent  Occasion,  and  shall  certainly  do  the  like  on  every 
similar  one,  yet  I  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  Sir,  that  I 
shall  most  gladly  contribute  all  in  my  Power  to  render 
effectual  every  Plan  calculated  to  promote  the  general 
Good;  and  I  do  hereby  empower  you  to  call  for  the 
number  of  Men  necessary  for  defending  the  Frontiers 


MILITIA  CALLED  OUT  17 

from  the  County  of  Yohogany,  Monongalia,  Ohio, 
Hampshire,  Botetourt,  Augusta,  Dunmore  and  Fred 
erick  until  further  Orders. 

The  Resolution  of  Congress  respecting  the  Lead, 
never  came  to  Hand  'til  yesterday.  Orders  will  be  sent 
for  its  Delivery  without  loss  of  Time.  Several  Tons 
were  long  since  ordered  for  the  militia  in  your  Parts. 
The  Resolution  for  the  artillery  going  to  Fort  Pitt,  is 
not  yet  received. 

Col°.  Aylett,37  who  lives  in  this  Town,  is  appointed 
Commissary  to  supply  the  Western  Garrisons  with 
Provisions.  His  Appointment  came  to  my  Hands 
from  the  War-office  yesterday,  and  is  communicated 
to  him.  I  doubt  some  time  will  pass  before  Mr.  Aylett 
can  take  the  necessary  Steps  for  furnishing  Provi 
sions,  and  in  the  mean  Time  Mr.  Morgan  perhaps  can 
supply  them.  There  seems  no  other  chance  to  get 
them. 

You  will  please  to  direct  the  Militia  already  em- 
body'd  to  continue  in  Service  so  long  as  you  think 
there  is  occasion  for  them,  and  make  such  other  neces 
sary  Draughts  from  the  above  Counties  as  Exigencies 
may  require,  giving  me  notice  thereof  from  Time  to 
Time,  and  of  the  reasons  that  induce  you  to  make 
them. 


37  Col.  William  Aylett  belonged  to  a  distinguished  Virginia 
famity,  intermarried  with  the  Washingtons,  Lees,  Dandridges, 
etc.  Born  in  1743,  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Bur 
gesses  (1772-74),  and  delegate  from  King  William  County 
to  the  conventions  of  1775  and  1776.  He  resigned  from  the 
latter  May  22,  having  been  chosen  deputy  commissary-general 
by  the  Continental  Congress.  He  served  in  this  capacity  until 
his  sudden  death  in  April,  1780.  His  home  was  at  "Fair- 
field,"  and  here  he  frequently  entertained  Washington  and 
the  Lees  on  their  way  to  \Villiamsburgh. — ED. 


18          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

The  chastising  of  Pluggy's  Town  seems  to  me  abso 
lutely  necessary,  but  is  submitted  to  you,  as  being  bet 
ter  enabled  to  judge  on  the  Spot. 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be  Sir  Yr.  mo.  ob1.  &  very  hble 
serv1  P.  HENRY. 

To  Brigadier  General  Edward  Hand  at  Pittsburgh 


[Gov.   Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  David  Shepherd.      iSS6i — 
A.  L.  S.] 

SIR — You  are  hereby  required  to  raise  so  many  of 
the  Militia  of  your  County  as  General  Hand  may  de 
mand  for  the  Protection  of  the  Frontiers  of  this  State. 
I  am  Sir  Your  mo.  Hble  Serv1.  P.  HKNRY. 

Wms.BURGH   July  3.    1777. 

County  Lieutenant  of  Ohio 


[Col.   Zackwell   Morgan38  to  Gen.   Edward  Hand.      Calendar 
of  iU63— A.  L.  S.] 

Letter  dated  Monongalia  July  8,  1777,  says  that  the 
militia  of  his  county  will  be  drafted  in  a  few  days. 
He  has  placed  Maj.  James  Chew39  in  command.  Spies 
are  ranging,  and  one  company  is  apprehending  de 
serters. 


GENERAL  HAND  WARNED 

[David    Zeisberger    to    Col.    George    Morgan.        Calendar    of 
3NNii-i3 — Transcript  by  Draper.] 

Letter  dated  Cuchachunk40  July  7,   1777,  says  that 


38  For  Col.  Zackwell  Morgan,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  230, 
note  71. — ED. 

39  Maj.  James  Chew  is  noted  Ibid,  p.  246,  note  88. — ED. 

40  For  Zeisberger  see  Ibid,  p.  45,  note  71.    The  town  was  on 
the  site  of  that  now  known  as  Coshocton,  for  which  see  Ibid, 
p.  46,  note  73. — ED. 


BRITISH  AGENTS  BUSY  19 

the  messengers  sent  to  Pluggy's  Town  and  Sandusky 
met  a  hostile  band  of  Mingo,  Wyandot,  and  Mohican 
bound  towards  Wheeling.  They  did  not  go  to  war  of 
their  own  wish,  but  because  ordered  to  do  so  by  the 
governor  at  Detroit.  Later  the  messengers  met  John 
Montour,41  who  described  the  Detroit  treaty,  where 
the  governor  was  painted  and  dressed  like  an  Indian, 
and  presented  a  large  black  belt  painted  red,  sent  by 
the  Six  Nations.  Colonel  Morgan  is  urged  to  come  to 
Cuchachunk,  for  the  Wyandot  will  not  go  to  the  treaty 
at  Pittsburgh;  they  will,  however,  come  to  the  former 
place.42 


[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.  in  New  York 
Public  Library;    Hand  Papers— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  12th.  July  1777 

DEAR  YEATES — I  can  not  for  my  life  find  out  the 
Intention  of  the  Indians,  but  believe  they  will  be  gouv- 
erned  by  the  Success  of  the  British  arms  against  us. 
if  they  turn  out  too  strong  for  us  the  Indians  will  join 
them,  if  the  Contrary,  they  will  sit  still,  we  cant 
furnish  the  Articles  necessary  for  trade  Consequently 
the  Indians  will  not  Attempt  anything  Against  the 
English.  I  inclose  you  a  Coppy  of  a  letter  I  this  day 
recd.  from  Cushakunk,43  you  will  See  how  busie  the 
British  Agents  are  to  engage  the  Savages  to  depopu 
late  the  Frontiers,  there  is  a  Treaty  now  holding  at 


41  For  John  Montour  and  his  presence  at  Detroit  in  1776, 
see  Ibid,    pp.  28,  202. — ED. 

42  Morgan,  who  was  Indian  agent  at  Pittsburgh,  had  gone 
to  Philadelphia  to  report  to  Congress. — ED. 

43  See  preceding  document  for  letter  referred  to. — ED. 


20  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Oswego,  to  which  Col :  Butler  has  Cal'd  the  Indians.44 
they  say  they  dont  know  what  he  intends  by  it,  but 
think  if  the  English  Attempt  Our  Frontiers  it  will  be 
by  the  way  of  the  Susquehana.  two  Tribes  of  the 
Shawanese  declare  for  us,  two  are  against  us,45  the 
Wiandats  also  are  evidently  our  Enemies.  All  other 
nations  that  I  have  heard  from  declare  they  will  be  at 
peace. 

I  wish  much  to  hear  from  Lancaster,  and  to  learn 
how  the  Armies  in  the  field  proceed.  I  have  not  now 
time  to  ansr.  Jacky  Ewings  letter  would  be  glad  to 
Ansr  two  together,  Col:  Morgfan's]  Absence  gives 
me  infinite  trouble,  there  are  now  here  upwards  of 
50  Indians  of  DifF.  Tribes.  Jessy  Ewing  Joyns  me  in 
Duty,  Love  &  Compts.  to  All  I  am  Dr.  Yeates  most 
Affectionately  Yours  EDwd.  HAND 

Jasper  Yeates  Esqr. 


44  The  treaty  of  Oswego  was  held  preliminary  to  St.  Leger's 
operations  against  Fort  Stanwix.     It  was  called  early  in  July 
by  Col.  John  Butler  (for  whom  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  152, 
note  67),  and  was  attended  by  Sir  John  Johnson  and  several 
Loyalist  officers.     See  British  accounts  in  N.  Y.  Colon.  Docs., 
viii,  pp.  719,  724.     These  corroborate  the  account  of  the  Sen 
eca   chief    Blacksnake    (Draper   MSS.,    i6Fns-ii7)    that   the 
Seneca  particularly   were   averse  to   going   to  war,  but  were 
urged  thereto  by  the  Mohawk  chief  Joseph  Brant.      See  also 
Journals    of    the    Provincial    Congress    [etc.    of    Ne  w  York] 
(Albany,    1842),   i,   pp.    1006,    1007,    1025,    for   reports   of  this 
council  at   Oswego,   given   by   Oneida   Indians   and  the  com 
mandant  of  Fort  Schuyler.     The  attitude  of  the  Six  Nations 
had  a  powerful  influence  on  the  Western  tribes. — ED. 

45  The  four  tribes  or  clans  of  the  Shawnee  were  the  Kisca- 
poo  (Kishapocoke),  Piqua,  Chillicothe,  and  Mequochoke.     Of 
these  the  two  first-named  were  hostile,  being  located  farthest 
from  the  colonial  frontier,  and  nearest  the  sphere  of  British 
influence. — ED. 


A  PUNITIVE  EXPEDITION  21 

WAR  PARTIES  STRIKE  THE  FRONTIER 

[Calendar  of  letters.  1^64-67,  71,  72,  July  14-20.] 
July  14.  At  8  o'clock  Capt.  John  Minor  writes 
from  Fort  Stradler46  to  Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  that 
three  men  have  just  come  in  who  escaped  from  a  party 
of  Indians,  twenty  at  least ;  that  Jacob  Farmer's  house 
was  fired,  he  and  Nathan  Wirly  [Worley]  killed,  and 
three  children  captured.  "We  shall  march  after  them 
in  Less  than  an  hour." 

July  15.  Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  sends  the  above 
letter  by  express  to  General  Hand,  giving  account  of 
mischief  done  on  Dunkards  Creek.  "Is  not  this 
Cruel,  While  those  Savage  Nations  are  coming  to  treat 
with  your  Excellency  Pray  for  God  sake  Send  me 
full  Instructions." 

July  17.  Capt.  Samuel  Mason  writes  from  Fort 
Henry  of  an  attack  on  the  I3th  at  Grave  Creek.  Lieu 
tenant  Tomlinson47  sallied  out  with  twenty  odd  men 
and  followed  the  Indians,  who  had  driven  off  many 
horses;  the  pursuing  party  took  canoes  and  dropped 
down  to  Sunfish  Creek,48  where  they  found  the  trail. 


46  This  was  properly  Fort  Statler,  so  called  from  a  family 
of  that  name.     It  was  a  blockhouse  located  on  the  waters  of 
Dunkard    Creek,    a    western    tributary    of    the    Monongahela. 
Statler's  Fort  was  in  the  present  Monongalia  County,  W.  Va., 
just  south  of  the  Pennsylvania  border. 

For  Capt.  John  Minor,  see  Rev.   Upper  Ohio,  p.  235,  note 
70.— ED. 

47  This  was  Lieut.    Samuel   Tomlinson,  brother  of  Joseph 
(whose  children  were  interviewed  by  Draper  in  1846 — 38164- 
166).     He  came  to  the  Grave  Creek  neighborhood  about  1771, 
served   as  lieutenant   in  Captain   Mason's   company,   and   was 
killed  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Henry,  Sept.  I,  1777. — ED. 

48  Sunfish  Creek  is  five  miles  below  Fish  Creek,  in  Monroe 
County,  Ohio,  and  comes  into  the  Ohio  from  the  west.     The 


22  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Coming  upon  their  camp-fires  after  dark,  one  of  their 
guns  went  off  by  accident,  whereupon  fearful  of  being 
surrounded,  the  party  of  whites  retreated  to  Grave 
Creek  Fort,  and  sent  word  to  Col.  David  Shepherd. 
The  latter  sent  Mason  with  fifty  men  in  pursuit.  On 
the  1 5th  they  went  to  where  the  former  party  had 
found  the  Indian  Camp,  but  seeing  it  had  been  de 
serted  two  days,  thought  it  needless  to  continue  the 
pursuit.  Returning  by  canoe  they  were  surprised  by 
three  separate  volleys  from  Indians  concealed  on  the 
left  bank.  After  reaching  the  Indian  shore,  random, 
shots  and  some  conversation  ensued.  The  Indians 
called  out  that  they  were  Delaware  and  some  Shaw- 
nee  ;  apparently  they  were  twenty-five  or  thirty  in 
number.  After  dark  the  whites  pushed  up  stream, 
crossed,  and  lay  on  their  arms  all  night.  Seeing  moc 
casin  tracks,  they  followed  them  toward  Grave  Creek, 
only  to  find  that  these  signs  were  of  Captain  Pigman49 
with  a  party  of  fifteen  returning  from  a  scout  to  Little 
Kanawha.  "The  Boys  seem'd  very  anxious  to  Action 
for  further  particulars  you  may  be  inform'd  exactly 
by  the  Bearer  Mr.  Hoseae  Cam  Sr."  As  Captain  Van 
Metre50  talks  of  being  removed,  it  would  be  well  if 


earlier  settlers  called  the  right  bank  of  the  Ohio  the  "Indian 
shore,"  since  by  the  Treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  it  formed  the 
southern  boundary  of  their  nnceded  territory. — ED. 

49  For  Capt.  Jesse  Pigman,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  235. — ED. 

50  Capt.   John   Van    Meter,   son   of   Henry,   an   early   settler 
west   of   the    mountains,    was   born    about    1738.     In    1771    he 
owned  300  acres  at  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Waynes- 
burg,  Greene  County,   Pa.     Early  in  the  Revolution  he  com 
manded   a   company  of   rangers   from  Westmoreland.     Later 
he  settled  in  Brooke  County,  Va.,  and  there  died  about  1803. 
During  the  Indian  wars  his  home  was  raided,  his  wife  and 
daughter  being  killed,   and   one   son    (John)    carried   captive. 


A  PUNITIVE  EXPEDITION  23 

Mason  should  be  stationed  at  Fort  Henry  ready  to 
lead  out  a  pursuing  party  at  short  notice. 

In  an  undated  letter  Morgan  Jones  writes  to  his  par 
ents  from  Grave  Creek  full  particulars  of  the  actions 
described  in  the  preceding  letter.  The  cattle  and 
horses  carried  off  by  the  savages  belonged  to  Joseph 
Tomlinson,  John  Harness,  Samuel  Harries,  Zephaniah 
Blackford,  Mr.  Rogers,  and  Yates  Conwell.  The  bat 
tle  on  Sunfish  Creek  was  on  a  hill  where  the  whites 
were  nearly  surrounded.  "So  I  hope  you  wont  fail 
to  Come  Down  with  five  or  six  horses  with  all  speed  to 
help  us  up  to  yr.  parts  &c.  the  Sign  of  Indians  is  very 
Numerous  over  the  Ohio,  having  Numbers  of  Camps 
&  one  Large  Bark  Camp  Below  fish  Creek.  I  was  in 
Both  the  Actions  &  saw  the  Signs  myself." 

July  19.  James  Chew  took  the  testimony  of  two 
spies,  Richard  Ashcraft  and  Thomas  Carr,  who  on 
oath  declared  that  they  saw  tracks  supposed  to  be 
those  of  a  party  of  seven  or  eight  Indians,  on  the  head 
waters  of  Buffalo  Creek,  making  towards  Mononga- 
hela  River. 

July  20.  William  Cross  writes  to  Col.  Zackwell 
Morgan  from  Fort  Gerrard,51  which  he  was  guarding 
with  twelve  men,  for  reinforcements  and  ammunition. 

John  Corbly52  writes  an  undated  note  to  Col.  Zack- 


The  son  never  returned  to  civilization,  but  in  habits  and  feel 
ing  became  partially  an  Indian.  The  elder  John  afterwards 
married  Mrs.  Jemima  Bukey,  mother  of  the  famous  spy, 
Hezekiah  Bukey.  Their  home  was  on  Short  Creek. — ED. 

51  Garard    Fort    was    situated    on    Big   Whiteley    Creek,    in 
Greene  Township,   in   the   Pennsylvania   county  of   the  same 
name. — ED. 

52  John  Corbly  was  a  Baptist  minister  who  in  1776  was  pas 
tor  at  the  Goshen  Church,  near  Garard  Fort.     He  was  de- 


24          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

well  Morgan,  that  the  men  will  not  go  scouting  with 
out  flour,  and  asks  for  an  order  on  Wilson's  or  Har- 
din's  mills. 

July  20.  Col.  Zackwrell  Morgan  sends  to  General 
Hand  the  four  preceding  papers,  and  adds  that  accord 
ing  to  the  spies'  report  he  sent  an  express  to  warn 
Prickett's  Fort.53  They  had  already  been  alarmed, 
and  were  all  forted.  Morgan  hopes  that  the  enemy 
will  be  disappointed.  "I  shall  send  Major  Chew  with 
a  party  on  Tuesday  next  to  Scour  that  part  of  the 
Country.  The  Bussy  Time  of  Harvest  prevents  my  do 
ing  it  sooner."  Captain  Minor  pursued  the  party  who 
did  mischief  on  Dunkard's  Creek,  but  could  do  no 
more  than  recover  a  drove  of  cattle. 


[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  President  Wharton54.  Summary  of 
letter  dated  Fort  Pitt,  July  24th,  1777 — printed  in  Pennsyl 
vania  Colonial  Records,  v,  pp.  443,  444.] 

Sends  an  account  of  the  late  murders  and  ravages. 
Every  day's  experience  proves  that  nothing  but  pene 
trating  the  country  and  destroying  the  settlements  of 
these  perfidious  miscreants  \vill  prevent  the  depopula- 


voted  to  the  cause  of  the  colonies,  and  preached  vigorous  and 
warlike  sermons  that  much  heartened  the  frontiersmen  who 
came  from  many  miles  around  to  be  his  auditors.  In  May, 
1782,  while  Corbly  and  his  family  were  on  their  way  to  meet 
ing,  Indians  fell  upon  them  and  massacred  his  wife  and  five 
children.  See  Thwaites  (ed.),  Withers'*  Chronicles  of  Bor 
der  Warfare  (Cincinnati,  1895),  pp.  345,  346. — ED. 

54  Thomas  Wharton  Jr.  was  president  of  the  executive 
council  of  Pennsylvania,  and  chief  officer  of  that  state.  For 
another  letter  of  Hand  about  this  date,  see  Darlington,  Fort 
Pitt,  pp.  224,  225. — ED. 

53  For  the  location  of  Prickett's  Fort,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio, 
p.  235,  note  79.— ED. 


FRIENDLIES  25 

tion  of  the  frontiers.  Has  determined  to  do  this  as 
soon  as  he  can  obtain  provisions  and  men  enough  to 
ensure  success.  Needs  the  militia  of  Westmoreland 
and  Bedford  counties.55  The  Indians  are  now  going 
to  a  treaty  at  Oswego,  and  have  lately  had  one  at 
Niagara.  Is  apprehensive  of  an  attack  via  the  Sus- 
quehanna  or  toward  Albany. 


FRIENDLY  INDIAN  WARNINGS 

[Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle  to  Col.  William  Fleming.       iU68— 
A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  RANDOLPH  July  26th  1777 
SIR — Having  yesterday   received   Inteligence   from 

the  Shawnee  Towns  by  some  Indians  who  I'm  Con 
vinced  are  as  yet  our  friends,  that  there  has  lately  been 
a  Treaty  at  Detroit,  where  all  Nations  have  unani 
mously  agreed  to  Distress  the  frontiers  as  much  as  in 
their  Power,  they  accepted  of  the  War  Belt  &  Toma 
hawk  and  are  so  near  as  the  Shawnee  Towns,  where 
they  are  indeavouring  to  draw  over  what  Shawnees 
were  resolved  to  remain  Neuter  they  are  Invited  & 
Encouraged  by  a  French  Man  &  a  Wyndott  Chief  who 
accompanys  them.  there  was  a  Part  of  Shawnies 
ready  to  Come  to  this  Garrison,  who  upon  receiving 
the  News  from  Detroit  Postponed  their  Journey  &  re 
paired  to  the  Council.56  their  first  Intentions  are  to 


55  The  two  most  westerly  counties  of  Pennsylvania.     Bed 
ford  was  erected  in  1771  out  of  Cumberland ;    and  Westmore 
land  in  1773,  out  of  that  portion  of  Bedford  west  of  Laurel 
Hill — the  eleventh  and  last  provincial  county. — ED. 

56  In  Draper  MSS.,  3XN7I-73,  is  a  letter  from  Arbuckle  to 
Hand,  containing  practically  the  same  information  as  this  let 
ter  to  Fleming.     In  it  he  says  that  the  Shawnee  council  was 
being  held  "at  the  New  Town  where  the  Chillicothe  Indians 


26          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

De[s]troy  this  &  Whelen  Garrisons  &  then  Proceed  to 
the  frontier  Inhabitants.  They  are  resolved  if  Pos 
sible  to  Secure  this  Place  to  them  selves  either  by 
Storming  the  Garrison  or  Starving  us  out,  from  the 
Author  of  the  above  information57  I  understand  there 
are  some  Partys  now  on  their  way  to  this  Place  &  they 
suppose  their  General  Attact  will  be  very  Shortly 
their  method  to  reduce  this  Garrison  is  as  follows 
there  will  a  few  Indians  way  lay  some  of  our  People  a 
hunting  Cows  or  Horses  upon  which  we  will  Detatch 
a  Pretty  large  Party  to  Drive  them,  when  they  get 
our  Party  a  Sufficient  Distance  from  the  Garrison 
Their  Main  Body  will  Surround  &  Destroy  them,  by 


now  live."  In  an  accompanying  note,  Dr.  Draper  locates  this 
Indian  village  on  the  Little  Miami,  three  miles  above  the 
present  site  of  Xenia.  This  was  later  known  as  Old  Town, 
or  Old  Chillicothe,  and  had  a  famous  history.  Thither  Daniel 
Boone  was  carried  captive  in  1778  and  lived  as  the  adopted 
son  of  the  Chief  Blackfish.  This  was  also  the  town  that  Col. 
John  Bowman  marched  against,  in  1779,  and  the  one  burned 
by  the  Indians  on  the  approach  in  1780  of  Clark's  forces. 
After  this  last-named  date  it  was  practically  abandoned. — ED. 
57  The  author  of  the  information  was  an  Indian  woman 
known  to  the  whites  as  the  Grenadier  Squaw,  from  her  un 
usual  height.  Her  tribal  name  was  Non-hel-e-ma;  she  had 
also  been  baptized  Catherine  (hence  was  called  Katy).  She 
was  a  sister  of  Cornstalk  and  a  woman  of  note,  having  a 
village  in  the  Pickaway  Plains.  See  Dumnore's  War,  p.  301. 
She  was  attached  to  the  Americans,  and  frequently  brought 
them  valuable  information.  After  the  death  of  Cornstalk, 
she  abandoned  her  people,  and  with  forty-eight  head  of  cattle 
and  some  horses  and  other  property  made  her  way  to  Fort 
Randolph  and  dwelt  with  the  garrison,  by  whom  she  was  fre 
quently  employed  as  an  interpreter.  Later  she  removed  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Pittsburgh,  where  in  1785  she  petitioned 
the  Indian  commissioners  for  relief  and  for  a  grant  of  land 
on  the  Scioto,  where  her  family  had  lived  and  her  mother 
was  buried.  This  petition  was  referred  to  Congress,  but  ap 
parently  was  never  acted  upon.  Draper  MSS.,  3039. — ED. 
•  ,  (•- A  c ,  tf.  *•.  .i>-:  ',(  •.  „£«•  /  -»  t,  J  &r't>  <*  /  Jt> .  i  /*••  (ft  i  * 

It  «*  ••  i«        i •••  \t      ^  {  /-,  ,  t  i^(          fil , :  \,^^  .ff^      It    ••  K  ft  f-*j t  r   I  «.' 

(  I  .  ..  /  ft.     /,  /   . 


REPORT  FROM  ZEISBERGER  27 

which  Scheme  this  Garrison  is  to  Become  an  easy 
Prey,  upon  the  Strength  of  this  information  I  have 
Detained  Mr.  Wallace  with  the  remainder  of  his  C°.58 
untill  farther  Orders;  or  Relieved  by  the  Militia.  I 
have  Sent  the  within  mentioned  Particulars  to  General 
Hand  at  Fort  Pitt  from  whom  I  expect  my  first  In 
structions.59 

I  desire  if  you  think  Proper  that  the  Governor  & 
Council  be  made  acquainted  with  the  Particulars  being 
certain  it  can  be  conveyed  much  more  expeditiously  by 
you  than  by  the  General  I  am  Sr.  with  esteem  your 
very  Humble  Serv1 

MATTHEW  ARBUCKLE. 


[David  Zeisberger  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      iU6g— A.  L.  S.] 

CUCHACHUNK  July  2Qth  1777. 

HONOUR'D  SIR — I  receiv'd  your  favor  of  the  9th  In 
stant  with  the  Message  to  the  Counsellers  at  Cucha- 
chunk  which  I  explained  to  them.  They  are  allways 
glad  to  hear  from  their  friends  &  Brethren  at  the  Fort 


58  Andrew  Wallace,  son  of  Peter  Jr.,  and  his  wife  Martha 
Woods,  belonged  to   a  well-known   Augusta   County   family. 
He  was  in  1774  a  private  in  Capt.  Murray's  company  of  vol 
unteers.     At  the  opening  of  the  Revolution  he,  with  several 
of  his  brothers,  enlisted  and  was  lieutenant  of  the  8th  Vir 
ginia,  and  later  captain  of  a  company  in  this   regiment.     In 
1776  he  was  recruiting  for  Captain  Arbuckle  ;    see  Rev.  Upper 
Ohio,  index.     He  arrived  at  Fort  Randolph  early  in  the  sum 
mer  of  1777,  with  orders  from  his  colonel  to  march  his  men, 
who  had  re-enlisted  in  the  Continental  army,  into  the  settle 
ments.     About  twenty  had  gone,  and  the  rest  were  detained 
awaiting   the    return    of   the   pack-horses,   as    here   narrated. 
Lieut.   Andrew  Wallace  joined  the  Eastern  army  later,  and 
was  killed  in  1781  at  the  battle  of  Guilford.  —  ED. 

59  In  Arbuckle's  letter  to  Hand,  he  states  that  should  Lieut. 
Andrew  Wallace   leave,  the  garrison  would  then  consist  of 
but  eighty-seven  rank  and  file.  —  ED. 


v^»ts\>u 


28          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

&  it  giveth  them  new  Encouragement  to  hold  fast  to 
friendship.  I  wish  therefore  that  you  &  Col.  Morgan 
might  let  them  hear  from  you  at  this  critical  time  as 
often  as  you  can.  On  the  2Oth  this  Month  the  Half 
King  of  the  Wyondats60  with  19  of  his  Men  arrived 
at  Cuchachunk  where  they  had  a  great  Council  &  after 
they  had  delivered  several  Speeches  the  Half  King 
drew  out  the  War  Belt  with  the  Tomhawk,  told  the 
Delawares,  that  all  the  Nations  on  the  other  Side  & 
this  Side  the  Lake  had  join'd  &  taken  hold  of  it,  that 
the  Delawares  only  had  not  yet  taken  hold  of  &  deliv- 
er'd  the  Belt  to  them.  After  they  had  consulted  about 
it  they  returned  it  back  to  the  Half  King  &  told  him 
that  they  would  mind  nothing  but  sit  still  &  hold  fast 
to  peace  &  friendship,  that  they  had  promised  at  a 
Treaty  when  Peace  was  concluded  after  last  War  that 
they  would  never  fight  no  more  against  the  white 
people  as  long  as  the  Sun  shineth  &  the  Rivers  run  & 
that  they  would  keep.  The  Half  King  not  being 
pleased  with  this  Answer  returned  the  War  Belt  & 
compelled  the  Delawares  to  take  it  who  are  yet  firm  in 
their  Mind  &  stand  fast.  After  the  WTyondats  were 
gone,  they  gathered  all  their  Men  &  Women  &  admon 
ished  them  not  to  have  any  thoughts  of  going  to  War 
nor  to  join  any  of  the  Warriors  when  they  pass  by. 
We  now  expect  nothing  else  but  that  after  these  W7y- 
ondats  got  home  their  Warriors  will  march  into  the 
Settlements  very  fast.  They  desired  them  to  let  their 
Warriors  not  come  by  the  Delaware  Towns  that  they 
should  march  another  Way,  but  they  did  not  consent 


For  this  chief,  see  Rev.  U^er  Ohio,  p.  91,  note  14. — ED. 


REPORT  FROM  ZEISBERGER  29 

to  it  £  said  they  will  march  by  Cuchachunk.  Capt. 
White  Eye  will  inform  you  of  every  thing  that  has 
passed  &  how  Matters  are.  No  doubt  but  you  will 
encourage  them  to  be  strong  &  to  stand  fast,  for  if 
they  should  give  out,  we  with  our  Indians  could  not 
maintain  ourselfs  here  any  longer.  \Ye  wish  that  an 
Army  might  soon  come  out,  this  would  in  my  Opinion 
be  the  only  Method  to  get  a  Peace  settled  among  the 
Nations. 

23  Warriors  returned  lately  from  the  Settlements 
I  heard  from  Red  stone  with  3  Prisoners  &  3  Scalps  & 
7  or  8  horses  Last  Night  we  got  Intelligence  by  an 
Indian  who  came  from  Sandusky  that  a  Party  of  30 
Wyondats  &  French  among  them,  were  not  far  of  [f] 
on  their  March  to  the  Settlements  £  will  come  to 
Cuchachunk  perhaps  to  Day. 

The  Delawares  flatter  themselves  that  an  Army  will 
soon  come  out  which  is  their  only  Hope  yet,  but 
should  that  fail  I  am  afraid  they  cannot  stand,  &  than 
[then]  surely  all  the  Nations,  that  have  not  yet  joined 
&  taken  the  Wrar  Belt,  will  join  them.61  I  beg  the 
favour  of  forwarding  the  enclosed  Letter  &  you  will 
much  oblige  your  sincere  friend  &  humble  Serv1. 

D.  ZlSEBERGER. 
To  His  Excellency  Edwd  Hand 
Genl.  at  Pittsburgh 


61  Governor  Hamilton  wrote  July  17,  1777,  that  there  had 
already  gone  out  fifteen  parties,  composed  of  289  warriors, 
with  thirty  white  officers.  See  Wis.  Hist.  Colls.,  xi,  p.  98, 
note. — ED. 


30          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

SUGGESTIONS  FROM  GOVERNOR   HENRY 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.  18)26— L.  S.] 

Wms.BURGH  July  27th.  1777 

SIR — I  have  this  Day  recd.  your  Despatches  by  Mr. 
Kelly.  I  was  favor'd  with  yours  a  copy  of  which  you 
transmitted  by  this  Express.  Col°.  Croghan62  was 
here  &  about  to  go  up.  By  him  I  wrote  you  an  answer 
&  together  with  that  sent  Letters  to  the  Lieutenants  of 
sundry  Countys  most  convenient  directing  them  to 
furnish  from  Time  to  Time,  Such  Requisitions  of  men 
as  you  may  think  the  safety  of  our  Frontier,  will  make 
it  necessary  for  you  to  call  for.  In  the  Letter  to  you, 
I  observed  that  by  the  Constitution  of  Virginia,  none 
but  the  Governor  with  the  Advice  of  Council  had  a 
Right  to  embody  the  Militia;  &  that  when  embodyed, 
the  sole  Direction  of  them  is  given  to  the  Governor. 
And  I  beg  Leave  here  again  to  repeat,  that  I  do  not 
claim  this  Power  with  any  Intention  to  retard  your 
Views,  but  I  shall  on  every  Occasion  think  myself 
happy  to  forward  them  &  give  you  every  possible  Aid 
&  Furtherance.  Least  any  of  the  Letters  sent  by  Col°. 
Croghan  should  miscarry  I  herewith  send  others  to  the 
Coty  Lieutenants  in  the  N°.  West,  desiring  their  Co 
operation  with  you. 

I  am  very  sorry  for  the  Mischief  done  by  the  In 
dians.  I  was  ever  of  opinion,  that  the  severest  Ven 
geance  should  be  taken  on  Pluggys  People.  The  Ter 
ror  of  their  Fate,  may  serve  as  a  usefull  Lesson  to  the 
neighbouring  Tribes.  Savages  must  be  managed  by 
working  on  their  Fears.  No  doubt  but  much  address 


}2  For  a  brief  sketch,  see  Dunmore's  War,  p.  7,  note  12. — ED. 


PATRICK  HENRY'S  SUGGESTIONS  31 

will  be  necessary  in  keeping  the  other  Indians  quiet  & 
unofTended.  I  pretend  not  to  point  out  the  proper 
means  to  effect  this,  &  rely  on  your  Skill  &  Ability  to 
do  it. 

Accounts  from  Kentucki  tell  me  of  the  most  dis 
tressing  &  deplorable  condition  of  the  surviving  In 
habitants  in  that  Quarter.  Your  Movements  I  trust 
will  prove  the  best  Defence  to  them.  Two  hundred 
men  are  ordered  to  their  Assistance.63  But  it  seems 
to  me,  that  offensive  operations  can  alone  produce 
Defence  agl.  Indians. 

Are  not  the  Six  Nations  wavering?  perhaps  the 
progress  of  the  Enemy  about  Lake  George  may  in 
cline  them  against  us. 

With  Respect  to  any  particular  Orders  respecting 
the  Draft  or  march  of  any  of  the  Militia,  I  cannot  give 
them.  I  must  submit  the  whole  Matter  to  you  Sir,  & 
I  have  Confidence  that  whilst  you  exert  yourself  in 
defending  the  Frontier  &  chastising  the  Enemy,  you 
will  not  forget  the  Domestic  concerns  of  the  people 
composing  the  Militia.  Indeed  they  will  do  well  to 
consider,  that  the  Enemy  stands  between  them,  &  that 
State  of  Safety  &  Repose  which  I  hope  awaits  them. 

I'm  very  sorry  to  find  the  recruiting  Business  goes 


63  The  latter  part  of  May  the  three  forts  of  Harrodsburg, 
Boonesborough,  and  Logan's  Station  were  simultaneously  at 
tacked,  and  messages  of  appeal  for  aid  were  sent  to  Virginia 
and  Fort  Pitt.  The  relief  ordered  by  Governor  Henry  was 
two  companies  of  militia,  commanded  by  Col.  John  Bowman, 
who  arrived  at  Boonesborough  August  I.  While  there  were 
only  about  a  hundred  men  in  the  two  companies,  their  arrival 
brought  great  hope  and  comfort  to  the  harassed  Kentuck- 
ians. — ED. 


32          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

on  so  slowly.  I  shall  write  Col°.  Campbell64  on  the 
Subject.  The  Beef  &  Flour  you  will  want  for  yr.  Ex 
pedition,  no  Doubt  will  be  considerable.  But  I  can't 
p[r] event  the  Sale  to  the  Drovers  you  Speak  of.  The 
Lead  you  spoke  of  I  ordered.  The  Relief  for  Fort 
Henry  will  be  ordered  by  you.  I  have  to  desire  you 
will  favor  me  with  an  Acco^  of  the  State  of  the 
Frontier  as  occasions  happen,  &  of  every  Draught  of 
the  Militia  &  the  Reason  &  Design  of  making  it  as 
soon  as  possible,  the  great  Distance  making  it  impos 
sible  to  wait  for  Orders  from  hence.  The  Disposition 
of  Cap1.  Arbuckles  men  I  submit  to  you. 

You  will  now  find  Sir  The  Choice  of  Militia  given 
you  over  a  great  Extent  of  Country,  from  which  may 
be  drawn  the  most  formidable  men  in  the  State.  I 
confide  the  dearest  Interests  of  these  people  to  your 
Conduct.  Pardon  me  Sir,  for  observing  the  Magni 
tude  of  the  Trust,  which  (tho'  I  have  not  the  pleasure 
of  a  personal  Acquaintance  with  you)  I  doubt  not  will 
be  so  managed  as  to  redound  to  your  Honor  &  the 
Happiness  of  the  Frontiers.  I  need  not  mention  that 
you  will  take  the  men  from  such  Countys  whose  Situ 
ation  &  Circumstances  will  best  enable  them  to  Spare 
the  proper  Soldiers  for  the  Service.  I  am  Sir  yr.  mo. 

obfc.  hble  Serv. 

P.  HENRY. 

P.  S.  Culpepper  County  has  furnished  so  many 
men  I  Should  be  glad  you'd  Spare  them  if  possible. 

P.  H. 
Brigadier  General  Edward  Hand,  Pittsburgh 


64  Probably  John  Campbell,  for  whom,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio, 
p.  231,  note  74. — ED. 


CAPTURE  OF  A  FAMILY 

I  yesterday  reed  Letters  from  Gov.  Henry  he  de 
sires  me  to  act  as  I  think  proper  with  regard  to  the 
Men  at  your  Post  but  their  being  ordered  to  remain 
where  they  are  prevent  the  Necessity  of  any  further 
directions  at  present.65 


PROVISIONING  THE  FORTS 

[George  Morgan  to  David  Shepherd.     Calendar  of  18863 — 

A.  L.  S.] 

From  Fort  Pitt,  July  29,  1777,  George  Morgan 
writes  that  he  has  just  returned  from  Philadelphia 
and  desires  Colonel  Shepherd  to  provision  the  garri 
son  at  Wheeling  and  keep  accurate  accounts  therefor. 
Since  flour  is  not  to  be  had  in  that  neighborhood,  Mor 
gan  will  supply  all  that  is  ordered.  Wishes  Shepherd 
to  supply  all  of  the  stations  in  Ohio  County.  Herd 
the  cattle  until  they  are  needed  for  the  expedition, 
when  salt  will  be  sent.  Particulars  about  accounting 
and  issuing.  Congress  has  ordered  particular  care  to 
be  taken  of  the  hides  and  tallow. 


BEAVER  CREEK  RAID 

[Col.  John  Gibson  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.  iLT70 — A.  L.  S.] 
DEAR  GENERAL — This  Moment  two  men  came  in 
here  they  had  Been  a  Reaping  near  the  Mouth  of 
Beaver  Creek,  they  informed  me  that  on  going  to 
George  Bakers66  house  they  found  every  thing  de- 


65  This  last  paragraph  was  written  on  the  bottom  of  the  let 
ter  by  General  Hand,  who  transmitted  it  either  to  Col.  David 
Shepherd  at  Wheeling,  or  Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle  at  Point 
Pleasant. — ED. 

66  George  Baker  was  of  German  birth,  and  coming  to  Amer 
ica  in  1750  married  an  English  girl.    About  1772  they  removed 

3 


34          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

stroyed  and  the  people  Missing,  that  one  of  them 
tracked  where  the  Indians  went  with  the  Children  al 
most  to  the  River,  they  found  three  Letters  laying 
Before  the  door,  which  they  say  were  wrote  at  Detroit, 
that  upon  this  they  were  making  the  Best  of  their  way 
to  this  place,  when  about  a  Mile  from  here  they  saw 
two  Indians  who  Ran  of[f]  as  soon  as  they  Discov 
ered  them,  one  of  the  men  has  the  letters  having  in 
the  hurry  forgot  to  Leave  them  as  he  went  out  to  pilot 
the  party  who  turned  out  after  them,  there  is  a  num 
ber  of  the  people  out  from  the  Fort,  probably  they 
may  have  done  more  mischief.  As  soon  as  I  Learn 
the  particulars  shall  inform  you  more  fully  Bakers 
family  Consisted  of  himself,  his  Wife  and  five  Chil 
dren  and  Lived  about  four  miles  from  here  on  the 
Dividing  Ridge  between  the  Ohio  and  Racoon.  This 
moment  a  party  of  6  men  who  went  to  the  mouth  of 
Racoon  on  a  Scout,  returned  they  saw  Six  Indians 
crossing  in  a  Cannoe  near  the  mouth  of  Beaver  Creek 
to  the  Indian  Side,  and  they  were  at  the  place  where 
the[y]  tied  Bakers  family  with  Bark  and  saw  where 
the[y]  Crossed  the  River.  Fifteen  men  will  pursue 
in  a  few  minutes,  and  as  there  hardly  ten  men  will  be 
left  here,  if  a  Large  party  of  Indians  should  be  out 
they  will  be  Scarcely  able  to  Defend  the  Fort.  I  have 
been  taken  ill  with  a  Fever  last  night  which  Still  Con- 


to  the  Western  country  and  built  their  cabin  as  herein  de 
scribed.  The  entire  family  were  carried  captive  to  Detroit, 
and  well-treated  while  in  captivity.  Upon  their  release  they 
lived  awhile  on  the  south  branch  of  Potomac,  and  finally  came 
back  to  their  home  on  Raccoon  Creek,  where  Baker  died  in 
1802.  See  Joseph  H.  Bailsman,  History  of  Beaver  County 
(N.  y.,  1904),  i,  p.  149. — ED. 


AN  EXPECTED  ATTACK  35 

tinues,  I  am  not  able  to  pursue  with  the  party.  I  am 
Dear  General  with  much  Respect  your  most  obedient 
humble  Serv*. 

JN°.  GiBSON67 

LOGSTOWN  July  3ist.  1777     3  oClock  P.  M. 
To  Brigadier  General  Hand,  Fort  Pitt,  per  Express. 


[Col.  John  Gibson  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.  iU73— A.  L.  S.] 
DEAR  GENERAL — About  an  hour  agoe  a  party  of  In 
dians  fired  on  a  Serj1,  2  men  and  2  Boys  about  2  miles 
up  the  River  the[y]  killed  the  Sergeant  and  took  one 
of  the  Boys  prisoner,  the  men  Escaped.  By  two  Dela- 
wares  who  came  from  Coshachking  I  wrote  you  a  let 
ter,  By  them  which  least  it  should  Miscarry  I  have 
sent  you  this.  The  Delawares  say  that  30  Wiandots 
and  some  french  will  be  here  in  a  Day  or  two  to  At 
tack  this  Settlement  and  that  a  both  [sic]  number  of 
English  and  french  and  Indians  are  on  their  way  to 
Attack  Fort  Pitt,  if  White  Eyes68  passes  this  way  he 
will  Be  in  danger  of  Being  killed,  it  was  with  the 
utmost  Difficulty  I  prevented  one  of  the  men  who 
Escaped  from  killing  the  Delawares.  I  think  if  the 
Accts  are  true  this  Small  Garrison  will  Suffer,  from 
the  present  Temper  of  the  Inhabitants  they  intend  to 
fly.  I  wish  a  party  cou'd  be  Spared  to  Bring  of[f] 
the  Women  and  Children.  I  shall  Remain  here  until 
tomorrow  morning,  if  any  person  comes  they  had  bet 
ter  come  this  night,  they  militia  all  threaten  to  Leave 
this  Immediately. 


67  For  a  sketch  of  John  Gibson,  see  Dunmore's  War,  p.  n, 
note  19.     He  was  at  this  time  forted  at  Logstown,  for  which, 
see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  26,  note  52. — ED. 

68  For  White  Eyes,  see  Dunmore's  War,  p.  29,  note  48. — ED. 


36          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

I  am  Dear  Gen1,  your  most  humble  Serv1. 

JN°.  GIBSON 

August  Ist  4  °Clock  P.  M.     1777 
To  Brigadier  General  Hand     per  Express 


SUNDRY  RAIDS  AND  SKIRMISHES 

[Calendar   of   letters.       11174-79,   81,   82;     4ZZio; 

3876-78;    and  Darlington's  Fort  Pitt,  p.  226,  Aug.  2-13] 

At  the  beginning  of  August,  reports  began  to  pour 
in  to  General  Hand  at  Fort  Pitt,  of  simultaneous  raids 
in  widely-scattered  places. 

Aug.  2.  Joseph  Ogle69  writes  from  Beech  Bottom 
Fort70  that  spies  having  discovered  Indians  about  eight 
miles  below  this  post,  his  lieutenant  and  five  men  went 
in  pursuit,  met  a  party  of  five,  within  three  miles  of 
Wheeling,  and  had  a  skirmish  in  which  they  killed 
and  scalped  one  Indian.  This  party  of  aborigines  had 
slightly  wounded  two  negroes  within  three  hundred 
yards  of  Wheeling  Fort,  whence  they  were  pursued 
but  not  discovered.  The  booty  was  "A  good  Rifle  Gun 
and  his  Accuterments  and  a  famous  Neet-made  Ware 
Club  his  scalp  was  Ellegantly  Adornd  with  Three 
fine  Rows  of  Tassels  and  Feathers." 


<J9  A  family  of  Ogles  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Ohio  County;  of  these,  Joseph  appears  to  have  been  the  most 
prominent.  As  captain  of  a  militia  company  he  took  part  in 
the  siege  of  Fort  Henry — see  post.  In  1/81  he  commanded  a 
company  in  Brodhead's  Coshocton  expedition.  An  autograph 
letter  of  his  (1785)  is  among  the  Draper  MSS.,  4XNioi. 
The  same  year  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  where  for  the  remain 
der  of  the  Indian  wars  he  maintained  his  reputation  as  an 
Indian  fighter.  He  died  Feb.  24,  1821,  in  St  Clair  County, 
111.— ED. 

70  For  Beech  Bottom  Fort,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  243. — En. 


RAIDS  AND  SKIRMISHES  37 

Aug.  2.  James  Booth71  writes  from  Koon  Fort  to 
Capt.  Zedick  Springer72  at  Prickett's  Fort,  that 
Charles  Grigsby's  wife  and  child  were  killed  and 
scalped  and  one  person  missing  on  the  3ist  of  July 
from  the  waters  of  Elk  Creek.73  A  party  of  thirteen 
or  fourteen  intend  to  pursue  the  raiders. 

Aug.  4.  Col.  David  Shepherd  writes  to  General 
Hand  from  Ohio  County  of  the  skirmish  of  the  pre 
ceding  Friday,  when  six  scouts  attacked  and  killed 
one  of  five  Indians  and  put  the  rest  to  flight.  The  peo 
ple  are  alarmed  and  may  remove  from  the  frontier. 

Aug.  5.  Capt.  Samuel  Moorhead  writes  from  Kit- 
tanning  to  General  Hand,  thanks  him  for  his  warn 
ings,  and  reports  the  visit  of  a  Delaware  whom  he  sus 
pects  is  a  spy.  The  latter  reported  having  seen  the 
writer's  brother  and  Mr.  McFarlane74  at  Niagara 
twenty  days  ago. 


71  James  Booth  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  Monon- 
gahela   region,   making  his  improvement   on   Booth   Creek  in 
1771,  not  far  from  the  present  site  of  Morgantown.     He  was 
killed  by  Indians,  in  the  summer  of  1778,  and  his  loss  was  a 
blow  to  the  young  community — see  Thwaites,  Withers's  Bor 
der  Warfare,  p.  247.      Coon  Fort  was  on  the  land  of  Joseph 
and  Philip  Coon  in  Marion  County,  W.  Va. ;    for  the  exact 
location,    see    Henry    Raymond,    Harrison    County,    W.    Va. 
(Morgantown,  1910),  p.  64.     This  fort  was  kept  up  until  some 
time  in  1789  or  1790,  when  it  was  abandoned. — ED. 

72  Zadoc  Springer  belonged  to  a  German  family  who  emi 
grated  in  early  days  from  New  Jersey  to  the  Monongahela. 
In    1782  he  was  a  magistrate  in  Westmoreland  County,  and 
his  sister  was  the  wife  of  Col.  Zackwell  Morgan. — ED. 

73  For  a  more  extended  account  of  the  raid  upon  the  Grigs- 
by  homestead,  see  Border  Warfare,  pp.  217,  218.     It  was  sit 
uated  on  a  branch  of  Elk  Creek  in  Harrison  County,  W.  Va. 
For  the  exact  location,  see  Haymond,  Harrison  County,  p.  63. 
The  date  has  usually  been  given  from  tradition  as  June,  1777; 
this  document  gives  the  exact  time. — ED. 

74  For  their  capture,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  pp.  245,  246. — ED. 


38  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Aug.  7.  Dorsey  Pentecost,  at  Greenway,75  sends  an 
express  to  General  Hand  to  inquire  concerning  a  ru 
mor  that  a  man  taken  captive  last  autumn  has  lately 
escaped  from  Detroit,  and  reported  to  Hand  that  an 
army  of  10,000  to  16,000  Canadians,  Indians,  and  Brit 
ish  are  marching  toward  Pittsburgh.  The  panic  is 
great,  and  the  writer  wishes  the  rumor  either  con 
firmed  or  denied. 

Aug.  8.  Samuel  Moorhead  from  Kittanning  re 
ports  the  desertion  of  the  Indian  mentioned  in  his  let 
ter  of  the  5th,  after  stealing  a  gun  and  other  articles, 
and  setting  their  canoes  adrift.  If  attacked,  no  in 
formation  can  be  sent  by  water.  Urges  Hand  to  send 
him  more  men.  On  the  same  date,  Hand  appointed 
a  meeting  of  militia  officers  at  Ligonier  for  Monday, 
Aug.  1 8. 

Aug.  n.  Arthur  Campbell  writes  from  Washing 
ton  County  to  Col.  William  Fleming76  that  Peter  and 
Daniel  Harmon,  fifty  miles  down  Sandy  River,77  were 
fired  at  by  an  Indian  party,  thought  to  be  forty  or  fifty 
in  number,  from  four  large  canoes  drawn  up  in  a  small 
creek.  The  Harmons  escaped  and  warned  the  inhabi 
tants.  One  settler  was  killed  and  scalped  last  Friday, 
near  Blackmore's  on  the  Clinch  River  ;78  traces  of  the 
enemy  are  found  along  other  parts  of  the  Clinch.  The 


75  For  Dorsey   Pentecost  see  Dunmore's  War,  p.   101,  note 
47.     "Greenway"  was  probably  somewhere  on  Youghiogheny 
River,    whither    Pentecost    removed    his    family    during    the 
panic  of  1777. — ED. 

76  For  Arthur  Campbell  and  Col.  William  Fleming  see  Ibid, 
p.  39,  note  70,  and  pp.  428,  429,  respectively. — ED. 

77  For  the  Harmon  family  and  their  previous  scouts  in  this 
vicinity,  see  Ibid,  p.  70. — ED. 

78  For  this  location,  see  Ibid,  p.  85,  note  33. — ED. 


RAIDS  AND  SKIRMISHES  39 

people  are  closely  forted,  and  in  more  distressing  cir 
cumstances  than  last  summer.  They  need  men,  provi 
sions,  and  salt,  and  can  with  difficulty  get  lead, 
although  so  near  the  mines.  It  is  rumored  that  Point 
Pleasant  has  been  evacuated.  Can  no  plan  be  made  to 
chastise  these  ravagers  ?  Can  nothing  be  done  at  Fort 
Pitt?  Are  they  to  look  to  Congress  or  their  own  state 
for  relief?  As  Fleming  is  the  only  representative  in 
whom  they  have  confidence,  they  expect  him  to  make 
some  plan  to  save  this  back  country  from  total  devas 
tation. 

Aug.  12.  Samuel  Mason  writes  General  Hand  that 
Colonel  Shepherd  has  set  men  to  work,  strengthening 
the  fort.  He  found  a  package  of  ten  proclamations 
from  Detroit,  but  kept  them  a  profound  secret,  for 
fear  that  spreading  them  would  be  hurtful  to  the 
cause. 

Aug.  12.  Archibald  Lochry  writes  from  Twelve 
Mile  Run79  to  General  Hand  that  he  finds  it  difficult 


79  Archibald  Lochry  (Laughrey,  Lockrey,  Loughrey)  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  and  born  on  the  frontiers  of  Penn 
sylvania.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  Bedford  County, 
and  on  the  organization  of  Westmoreland  (1773)  was  chosen 
county  lieutenant,  in  which  office  he  acted  acceptably  until  his 
departure  for  his  ill-fated  expedition  (1781).  His  home  was 
in  Unity  township,  between  Greensburgh  and  Ligonier,  on  a 
small  stream  designated  in  his  letters  as  'Twelve  Mile  Run"; 
it  is,  however,  no  longer  so  called.  In  1781  Lochry  raised  a 
volunteer  expedition  to  join  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark  in  his 
operations  in  the  West.  Leaving  the  rendezvous  not  far  from 
Hannastown  on  July  24,  he  set  out  expecting  to  join  Clark  at 
Wheeling.  L^pon  reaching  this  latter  place  he  found  Clark 
had  gone  in  advance,  and  set  forth  to  overtake  him.  Having 
landed  about  ten  miles  below  Miami  River,  to  refresh  his 
party,  Lochry  and  his  men  were  overpowered  by  a  superior 
force  of  Indians  and  obliged  to  surrender.  The  commandant 
was  one  of  the  first  to  be  killed  by  a  Shawnee  tomahawk. 


40  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

to  spirit  up  the  people  of  his  county.  He  has  only 
enlisted  twenty-five.  A  substitute  has  orders  to 
range  from  Laurel  Hill  to  the  mouth  of  Kiskiminitas 
Creek.80 

Aug.  13.  The  inhabitants  of  a  small  fort  on  Buffalo 
Creek  write  to  General  Hand  requesting  "your  Excel 
lency  to  take  our  distressed  case  into  your  serious  con 
sideration,  we  have  at  the  risk  of  our  lives  preserved 
our  Crops  untill  now  and  last  night  we  heard  of  a 
party  of  Indians  preparing  to  cross  the  river  about  a 
mile  above  the  Beech  bottom  Station  and  we  have  out 
of  what  few  men  we  have  in  the  fort  amounting  in 
the  whole  to  about  20  men,  sent  7  to  assist  in  pursuing 
them."  Beg  to  be  excused  from  a  draft.  "Signed  by 
Thoa.  McGuire,  Edward  Perins81  and  the  fort  people 
in  general." 


His  widow  afterwards  married  Capt.  Jack  Guthrie.  Two  of 
Lochry's  children  petitioned  Congress  for  bounty  land,  and  in 
1859  a  committee  reported  favorably  upon  their  claim ;  see 
35th  Cong.,  ist  sess.  House  Reports,  no.  289. — ED. 

80  Laurel  Hill  was  the  eastern  boundary  of  Westmoreland 
County.     Kiskiminitas  Creek  was  on  the  northwestern  border, 
and  peculiarly  exposed  to   Indian   attacks.     Along  this  route 
came    the    savages    who    burned    and    captured    Hannastown 
(1782),  and  during  the  later  Indian  wars   (1/89-95)   this  re 
gion  was  under  special  stress.     A  small  blockhouse  known  as 
Reed's  Station  was  erected  near  the  Kiskiminitas  during  the 
latter  period  ;    at  the  time  of  this  letter  there  was  no  protec 
tion  nearer  than  Fort  Kittanning,  some  ten  miles  farther  up 
the  Allegheny. — ED. 

81  Thomas  McGuire  was  an  Irish  emigrant  who  settled  first 
on  the  South  Branch  of  Potomac;   thence  he  removed  in  1772 
to  Washington  County,  Pa.,  where  he  settled  near  the  upper 
waters  of  Buffalo  Creek.     He  was  the  father  of  Maj.  Francis 
McGuire,  later  noted  in  border  history.     The  site  of  his  fort 
is  not  precisely  known,  but  it  was  probably  on  or  near  Buffalo 
Creek,  some  miles  above  its  mouth. 

Edward  Perrin  came  West  from  Antietam,  Md.,  and  settled 


RAIDS  AND  SKIRMISHES  41 

James  Chambers  of  Westmoreland  County  told  Dr. 
Draper  that  in  August,  1777,  he  and  six  or  seven  other 
men  were  reaping  oats  near  Adam  Carnahan's  block 
house.82  On  receiving  notice  of  skulking  Indians, 
they  went  to  John  McKibben's,  where  Fort  Hand  was 
built  the  next  winter.83  The  Indians  plundered  several 
cabins  and  finally  attacked  Carnahan's  blockhouse.  On 


about  seven  miles  east  of  Wellsburg,  probably  near  Buffalo 
Creek.  Oct.  15,  1779,  while  hunting  with  two  companions,  he 
was  shot  and  killed  by  Indians  on  a  stream  fourteen  miles 
above  the  mouth  of  Short  Creek,  since  known  as  Perrin's 
Run.  He  was  about  fifty  years  of  age  when  killed,  and  left 
a  widow  and  several  children.  See  interview  with  his  grand 
daughter  in  Draper  MSS.,  168262,  263. — ED. 

82  James  Chambers  was  born  in  Ireland  in  May,  1749,  emi 
grated   to   America   about   1768,   and   in  the   autumn   of   1773 
settled  on  Kiskiminitas  Creek,  in  Washington  township,  West 
moreland  County.    There  Dr.  Draper  in  1846  interviewed  the 
aged  pioneer.     He  described  his  capture  by  Indians  in   1781 
while  on  a  scout  near  Sewickley  Creek,  his  sojourn  at  Detroit, 
and  at   Prison   Island   near   Montreal,  whence  he   escaped   in 
1782.     His  memory  was  very  retentive,  and  he  gave  Dr.  Dra 
per  many  facts  about  Indian  warfare. 

Adam  Carnahan  was  a  neighbor  of  Chambers.  His  block 
house  was  located  about  a  mile  south  of  the  Kiskiminitas  and 
six  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Conemaugh  Creek.  Carnahan's 
son  James  enlisted  in  the  Continental  service,  and  was  an 
officer  of  repute.  This  blockhouse  was  the  rendezvous  for 
Lochry's  forces  in  his  expedition  of  1781. — ED. 

83  Fort  Hand  was  built  in  the  autumn  of  1777  after  Fort 
Kittanning  was  evacuated  (see  post},  and  the  garrison  of  the 
latter  transferred  thither.     It  was  the  only  fort  in  that  region, 
on  the  Continental  establishment.     In  the  latter  part  of  July, 
1778,  Capt.  Samuel  Miller  with  nine  soldiers  of  the  8th  Penn 
sylvania  were  waylaid  without  the  fort,  when  the  captain  and 
seven  men  were  killed.     See  Penna.  Archives,  vi,  p.  673.     In 
March  of  the  following  year,  Fort  Hand  was  again  attacked 
and  ably  defended  by  Capt.   Samuel   Moorhead   for  twenty- 
four  hours,  when  the  besiegers  finally  withdrew.     Fort  Hand 
was  evacuated  shortly  after  this;    but  again  occupied  during 
the  Indian  wars,  and  kept  up  until  1791  or  1792.     It  was  lo 
cated    in    Washington    township    of    Westmoreland    County, 
about  a  mile  south  of  the  Kiskiminitas  ford. — ED. 


42  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHJO 

stepping  to  the  door,  John  Carnahan  was  instantly 
shot  dead.  The  firing  continued  briskly  until  dark, 
when  the  Indians  decamped,  carrying  their  wounded 
on  litters.  One  Indian,  left  dead,  had  about  him  arti 
cles  plundered  from  Chambers' s  cabin. 


RETALIATORY  EXPEDITION  PLANNED 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Col.  William  Fleming.      iU8o — 
A.  L.  S.] 

REDSTONE84    12th.  Aug4.  1777 

SIR — The  Murders  lately  committed  by  the  Savages 
on  our  Frontiers  have  occasioned  much  distress  and 
uneasiness  in  the  minds  of  the  Inhabitants,  and  as  a 
General  Confederacy  of  the  Western  tribes  has  taken 
place  at  the  Instigation  of  the  British  Emisaries  in 
their  Country  it  will  no  doubt  be  productive  of  Multi 
plied  Greivances  to  us  except  we  can  penetrate  their 
Country  and  take  on  them  the  Vengence  due  to  their 
perfidy 

I  therefore  in  Consequence  of  his  Excellency  the 
Governor  of  Virginia's  permission  desire  you  will  be 
pleased  to  furnish  me  with  200  Men  properly  officered 
and  Equiped  for  an  Expedition  into  the  Indian  Coun 
try,  and  willing  to  serve  Six  Months  from  the  first  of 
September  next  unless  sooner  discharged.  The  Coun 
ties  of  Monongalia  youghogania  &  Ohio  have  pro 
posed  to  furnish  their  proportions  by  Volanteers, 
you  Sir  will  be  the  best  Judge  how  to  proceed  in  your 
own  Country  as  soon  as  the  Men  are  ready  (which 
I  wish  to  be  as  soon  as  possible)  order  them  to  March 
to  Fort  Randolph  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanha- 


84  For  Redstone  see  Duntnore's  War,  p.  12,  note  22. — ED. 


RETALIATION  43 

way.  if  in  the  meantime  I  find  any  other  place  of 
General  Rendevous  more  convenient  will  take  the 
earliest  opportunity  of  Acquainting  you.  Least  the 
Garrison  at  Fort  Randolph  may  not  have  the  proper 
supply  of  Provision  beg  you  may  contrive  to  send 
flour  &  live  Cattle  to  supply  your  detachment  for  some 
time  after  their  Arrival.  Col.  Aylett  of  Williams- 
burgh  is  appointed  Commissary  for  the  Westren  Posts 
and  will  give  you  the  necessary  assistance.85  I  am  Sir 
your  most  Obed*.  &  Most  Hbb.  Serv1. 

EDWd.  HAND 
To  County  Lieutenant  of  Bottetourt 

P.  S.     Please  to  forward  the  Inclosed  to  Augusta 
by  Express. 


[Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  to  Capt  William  Harrod.86 
A.  L.  S.] 

SIR — You  are  to  Proceed  to  Recruit  all  the  able 
Bodied  Volenteers  as  Soon  as  Possible,  enlist  them 
to  go  on  an  Expedition  to  the  Indian  Towns,  and  have 


85  Upon  receipt  of  this  letter  Colonel  Fleming  called  a  court 
martial  whose  resolutions  (passed  Aug.  29,  1777)  are  in  Dra 
per  MSS.,  iU88.    There  were  present  William  Fleming,  coun 
ty  lieutenant,  Col.  George  Skillern,  Maj.  George  Poage,  Capt. 
Thomas  Rowland,  Capt.  John  Armstrong,  Capt.  Martin  Mc- 
Farren,    Capt.    Patrick   Lockhart,    Capt.    George   Givens,    and 
Capt.  James  Hall.     On  considering  the  letter  of  General  Hand 
it  was  determined  to  send  an  express  to  the  governor  of  Vir 
ginia   to   know   how    far   they   were   authorized   to    obey  this 
requisition.     They  are  sensible  that  the  frontier  would  profit 
by  such   an   expedition,  but  the  county  has  been   drained  of 
men,  and  they  are  apprehensive  of  the  consequences,  as  win 
ter  is  approaching.    As  to  supplies,  Eastern  parties  are  buying 
cattle  in  their  vicinity  at  extravagant  rates,  and  they  request 
a  stop  thereto. — ED. 

86  For  a  sketch  of  Capt.   William  Harrod,   see  Dunmore's 
War,  p.  68,  note  14. — ED. 


44          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

them  in  Readiness  as  Soon  as  Possible.  The  place  of 
Rendevouse  at  Cams  Fort,87  where  you  are  to  Order 
your  men  as  Soon  as  Recruited,  pray  use  Every 
Method  in  Your  Power  to  Dispatch  this  Business.  I 
wish  you  Success  and  am  Sir  your  Hble  Ser1. 

ZACKU.  MORGAN 
Aug.  15,  1777 

N.  B.      inlist  the  men  for  Six  Months  from  Ist  Sep1. 
tho  they  are  to  be  under  pay  as  Soon  as  Listed  and  all 
plunder  is  to  be  Divided  Equal. 
To  Capt  William  Harrod. 


[Maj.  Henry  Taylor  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     IU83— A.  L.  S.] 

RERDONS  BoxioM88  17th.  Augst.  1777 

DEAR  GENERAL — I  received  yours  of  the  9th.  of 
Augst.  Deated  at  Pittsburgh,  and  Must  confess  your 
condesending  to  leave  the  place  of  fixing  the  post  to 
the  people  to  be  as  satisfactory  as  the[y]  Could  Desire 
and  as  the  Chief  of  the  old  posts  was  below  Logs- 
Town  I  marched  the  Men  down  to  this  post,  and  went 
down  myself  to  the  Lower  posts  taking  the  minds  of 
the  people,  and  I  found  that  every  one  was  for  having 
it  at  the  place  where  the[y]  were.  I  found  that  the 
people  at  Large  could  not  fix  it,  I  then  ordred  the 
Officers  to  meet  at  this  post  and  there  to  Agree  on  the 
place.  the[y]  promised  to  do  so,  but  has  not  yet 
come.  Owing  I  beleave  to  an  alarm  of  some  Indians 
being  in  the  settlement  the  Inhabatants  is  in  the  Ut- 


87  Probably  intended  for  Kern's  Fort,  in  the  present  Monon- 
galia  County,  \V.  Va.,  on  Decker's  Creek     See  S.  T.  Wiley, 
Monongalla  County    (Kingwoocl,  W.  Va.,    1883),  p.  649. — ED. 

88  Reardon's    Run    is    on    the    southeast    side    of    Raccoon 
Creek,  in  Independence  township,  Beaver  County,  Pa. — ED. 


RETALIATION  45 

most  confusion  yet  it  is  as  bad  as  Deth  to  think  of 
moving.  the  Inhabatants  of  Holladay's  cove89  De 
clared  the[y]  would  stay  &  Difend  themselves  as  long 
as  the[y]  could.  &  secured  all  the  Ammonition  and 
Guns,  telling  me  that  the[y]  would  Ace1,  w1.  the  pub- 
lick  for  all  the[y]  would  Use  of  them  Indeed  I  must 
confess  the[y]  did  not  Use  me  w1.  any  indeacency. 
Cap*,  perce  and  his  Vollounteers  is  here  only  8  which 
was  left  to  Assist  Mr.  Baker  and  his  family  to  this 
place.90  the  Militia  is  Cheefly  all  Gon  &  going  home 
therefor  I  will  have  only  Cap1  Hogland91  and  Cap1 
Perces  Yollounteers,  Unless  New  Draughts  is  sent 

I  long  to  here  what  was  concluded  on  at  the  council 
at  Redstone  Fort.  I  have  no  News  but  what  you  have 
had  I  have  kept  out  constant  scouts  to  tray  to  meet 
them  Indians  that  was  in  the  Inhabatants  but  can  not 
make  Any  Discoverys,  there  is  about  50  Volls  and  10 
Militia  Draughts  here  which  will  be  free  in  a  few 
Days  the  people  in  General  seems  keen  for  an  Expe 
dition  but  how  the[y]  will  Turn  out  I  am  at  a  loss  to 
Gess  I  am  w1  Respect  yr.  Hubl  Serv1 

HENRY  TAYLOR  MAjr.92 
To  Brigadeer  Gen1.  Hand,  Fort  Pitt 

89  Holliday's  Cove  settlement  was   formed  in  1776  and  lay 
in  what  is  now  Hancock  County,  W.  Va.,  about  three  miles 
back   from   Ohio   River.     There   is   at  present  on   the   site   a 
postoffice  by  this  name. — ED. 

90  Probably  the  family  of  Joshua  Baker,  who  lived  opposite 
the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek  in  the  present  Hancock  County, 
W.  Va.      See  Dunmore's  War,  pp.  15-18. — ED. 

91  Capt.    Henry   Hoagland   lived   on   Pigeon   Creek,    in    the 
Monongahela  district.     He  served  with  McDonald  in  the  Wa- 
katomica  campaign  of  1774;    and  went  out  as  captain  in  1782 
under  Crawford.    After  the  latter's  defeat  he  was  never  again 
heard   from. — ED. 

92  For  a  sketch  of  Maj.  Henry  Taylor,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio, 
p.  233,  note  76. — ED. 


46  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

PORTS   STRENGTHENED 

[Capt.  Samuel  Moorhead  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     IU84 — 
A.  L.  S.] 

KlTTANING    19th.    Augt.    1777 

SIR — This  evning  sent  Out  A  party  of  men  to  drive 
up  the  Cattle,  A  little  ways  from  the  fort  was  fird  on 
by  a  Considerable  Party  of  indeans,  as  it  Appears  by 
their  tracks.  Killed  and  Scalpt  three  of  the  men,  and 
left  with  them  two  papers,  equal  in  Substance,  one  of 
which  I  inclose  to  you  for  your  Consideration9^  Am 
Sir  Your  Obdt  Hum1.  Serv1 

SAM1.    MOORIIKAD 

Have  but  three  small  Beef  Cattle  at  Present 
To  Gen1.  E.  Hand  Commander  in  Chieff  Fourt  Pitt 


[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     iU8s— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  HENRY  August  the  22d  1777 

SIR — In  obedience  to  your  order  I  have  Caled  in  all 
the  men  to  this  place  that  is  under  pay  and  have  Re 
moved  my  famely  Likewise,  but  there  Seems  a  Great 
Confusion  in  the  County  Concerning  it.  I  have  or 
dered  Capt  Ogle  to  keep  up  a  Scout  Between  this  fort 
and  the  Beach  Bottom  Likewise  Capt  Mason  to  send 
a  party  to  Scout  Betwen  this  and  Grave  Creek  and 
Shall  order  Such  Scouts  and  Spies  over  the  River  as 
our  Strength  will  admit  of,  Captains  Shannon,94 


93  See  Hamilton's  proclamation  of  June  24,  ante,  p.  14. — En. 

94  Probably   Capt.    Samuel    Shannon    from   Ligonier,   West 
moreland  County,  where  he  took  up  land   in   1773.     He  was 
head  of  a  ranging  company  from  1777-81.     In  the  latter  year 
he    accompanied    the    ill-fated    Lochry    expedition    (see    ante, 
p.  39,   note  79),   as  one   of   its  officers.      Sent  in   advance   by 
Colonel  Lochry  with  a  note  to  General  Clark,  he  was  captured 
by  the  Indian  party  lying  in  wait,  and  induced  to  advise  sur- 


STRENGTHENING  FORTS  47 

Leach  and  Marchant95  Arived  here  on  the  2Oth  Ins1 
and  Seems  Very  well  Behaved  and  Oblidging  our 
Captons  is  making  up  their  Companeys  as  fast  as  pos- 
ible.  But  the  Men  Complains  Greatly  that  they  are 
not  paid  of  as  they  want  the  money  for  their  former 
Service  to  aquip  them  for  a  Campain  it  would  be  well 
if  this  Could  be  Done  and  a  pay  Master  Sent  Down 
or  some  way  ordred  that  the  Men  are  paid  But  I 
make  no  Doubt  But  we  Shall  Get  the  Men  Required 
of  our  County  as  they  are  Recruiting  fast  Col  Mor 
gan  has  not  yet  arived  here  Neither  have  we  heard 
from  him  we  are  Repairing  the  fort  as  fast  as  posible 
and  Shall  Soon  have  it  Indian  proof  Except  they  Scale 
the  Stockades  the  Indians  has  Been  with  [us]  Once 
Since  I  Saw  you  they  Crossed  the  River  in  the  Night 
near  the  mouth  of  Buffelow  Creek  when  Cap1  Ogle 
with  a  party  of  his  men  followed  their  tracks  next 
morning  and  over  took  them  they  Changed  Several 
Shot  but  none  kiled  or  Cripled  on  Either  Side,  our 
people  Got  Eleven  Blankets  and  plunder  that  Sold  for 
24  Pounds  the  Indians  made  their  Escape  a  Cross 
the  River  the  next  night  by  the  plunder  got  it  is 


render  to  Lochry's  force.  He  was  carried  captive  to  Lower 
Sandusky,  whence  he  managed  to  escape,  and  had  reached  the 
hill  opposite  Wheeling  when  retaken  by  a  marauding  Indian 
on  his  return  from  the  settlements  and  tomahawked.  See 
Draper  MSS.,  6NNi46,  175,  176. — ED. 

95  These  companies  had  been  recruited  in  Westmoreland 
County  for  the  relief  of  the  Ohio  River  forts.  A  Swiss  fam 
ily  named  Marchand  lived  in  1770  on  Little  Sewickley  Creek 
in  Hempfield  township  of  that  county,  and  had  several  distin 
guished  descendants.  Capt.  David  Marchand  with  a  company 
of  thirty-four  men  and  Capt.  James  Leetch  with  thirteen  men 
served  on  the  Ohio  frontier.  3NNio. — ED. 


48          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

thought  that  they  was  a  party  that  had  been  at  fort 
Pitt90     I  am  Sir  with  Respect  Yr  Humble  Serv* 

DAVID  SHEPHERD 
To  His  Honour  General  Hand     at  Fort  Pitt 


TROOPS  FOR  EXPEDITION 

[Gen.   Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.   in  New  York 
Public  Library;    Hand  Papers— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  25th.  August  1777 

DEAR  YEATES — Your  favour  of  the  7th.  Instant  I 
recd.  the  i6th.  by  Mr.  Steel,  by  a  person  just  returned 
from  Williamsburg  I  learn  that  the  British  fleet  has 
Appeared  in  Chesapeak  Bay.  this  will  cause  a  new  & 
fatigueing  movement  in  our  Army,  I  am  as  Appre 
hensive  as  yourself  of  Sl.  Clairs  fate.  Indian  Affairs 
remain  as  when  I  last  wrote  to  you.  I  have  demanded 
2000  men  from  the  Several  frontier  Counties  of  Vir 
ginia  &  Pennsylvania  if  I  get  them  cant  have  a  doubt 
of  reducing  the  Wyandots  &  Pluggys  Town  Confed 
eracy,  at  present  our  most  Troublesome  Neighbours, 
this  County  is  in  great  confusion  &  Distress  at  present, 
the  prospects  of  fixing  a  permanent  boundary  between 
Virginia  &  Pennsylvania,  gives  the  people  much  satis 
faction,  next  to  Chastising  the  Indians,  they  desire 
that  may  take  place,  the  situation  of  the  Delawares 
embarraces  me  much.  I  wish  to  preserve  their  friend 
ship,  how  to  do  this  &  keep  small  parties  in  the  Indian 
Country,  (A  measure  I  wish  to  Adopt,)  &  steer  Clear 


90  Aug.  15,  General  Hand  wrote  to  his  wife,  "The  Delaware 
Indians  have  left  hostages  as  a  pledge  of  their  friendship." 
3NN47.-ED. 


MILITARY  MOBILIZATION  49 

of  the  Delawares  I  cant  tell.      I  wish  you  &  all  our 
friends  Felicity  &  am  Dr. Yeats,  very  Affectionately  yrs. 

EDWd  HAND 

To  Jasper  Yeates   Esqr.   Lancaster 

Endorsed :    Fort  Pitt  Aug*.  25.  1777.   Genl  Hand.     (Answd. 
Septr.  13.    177?  Pr  Col.  Steel) 


[Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.    3NN  154,  155— 
Transcript.] 

25tb.  Aug.    1777. 

Captn.  Pigman97  marches  this  day  for  Wheeling  with 
his  company,  &  takes  the  flour  he  talked  of ;  I  shall 
follow  him  myself  with  Majr.  Chew  on  Sunday 
next  with  about  100  men,  &  as  soon  as  I  get  to  Wheel 
ing  shall  return  by  the  way  of  Fort  Pitt  to  consult 
with  your  excellency  the  future  operations  of  the 
troops,  by  which  time  I  am  fully  convinced  that  the 
remainder  of  the  men  for  the  intended  expedition  will 
be  ready  to  march,  that  nothing  may  retard  us  any 
longer. 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Mrs.  Hand.    3NN47,  48 — Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  Aug.  25th  1777. 

The  safety  of  the  country  depends  on  our  being  able 
to  penetrate  the  Indian  country;  but  whether  I  can 
accomplish  it,  I  don't  yet  know.  Certain  it  is,  that 
with  a  proper  force  (without  which  it  will  not  be 
attempted),  a  measure  of  that  nature  be  executed 
without  greater  danger  than  this  garrison  is  exposed 
to.  *  *  *  The  i6th.  instant  a  party  of  Indians 


97  Captain  Pigman  did  not  march  as  intended ;  see  Shep 
herd's  letter  of  Aug.  28,  and  Zackwell  Morgan's  of  Aug.  29, 
post. — ED. 


50          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

attacked  a  house  about  forty  miles  from  here,  at  a 
place  called  Beaver  Run  in  Westmoreland  County, 
where  near  40  women  &  children  had  taken  shelter 
with  7  men ;  the  Indians  were  beaten  off,  two  of  them 
left  dead  on  the  spot ;  one  white  man  was  also  killed.98 
A  Delaware  Indian  who  arrived  here  yesterday  met 
the  party — they  were  Wyandotts — went  out  with  14 
men  &  were  returning  with  10 — one  of  them  was  shot 
through  the  body  &  had  his  arm  broken.  The  17th.  a 
party  of  Chippewas  fired  on  6  men  of  the  garrison  at 
Kittanning,  killed  three  of  them  &  got  off  clear. 
Twenty  men  from  this  garrison  are  now  out  on  the 
Indian  [side]  in  search  of  some  skulking  rascals  who 
fired  on  &  slightly  wounded  a  man  near  Mr.  Crog- 
han's"  place  yesterday.  As  they  are  guided  by  an 
Indian,  I  hope  they  will  ferret  them  out. 


QUIET  AT  FORT  HENRY 

[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     lUS;— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  HENRY    [Augt]  28th  1777 

SIR— we  have  not  seen  any  signs  of  the  Indians 
since  I  wrote  to  you  Last  and  we  keep  out  Scouts  and 
Spies  Every  Day.  Col  Morgan  has  not  ar[i]ved  here 
from  the  Monongahale  County  nor  Aney  Men  from 
that  County  neither  Do  we  hear  from  him  Cap" 
Shannons  men  was  Seemed  unesy  to  go  home  and  as 
I  saw  no  apperance  of  the  Indians  I  Let  them  go  they 
Behaveed  them  Selves  very  well  During  their  Stay, 


98  This  refers  to  the  affair  at  Carnahan's  blockhouse,  when 
John  Carnahan  was  killed.     See  ante,  p.  41. — ED. 

99  Col.  George  Croghan  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  Alle 
gheny,  about  four  miles  from  the  intersection  of  the  rivers. 
The  site  is  now  within  the  limits  of  Pittsburgh. — ED. 


A  TORY  PLOT  51 

we  have  got  the  fort  in  Some  Better  posture  of  De 
fence  than  it  was  Before,  I  ordred  the  men  from  the 
Beach  Bottom  But  the  Inhabetants  would  not  Remove 
I  therefore  ordred  that  party  to  Keep  up  a  Scout  on 
the  other  Side  of  the  River  So  as  to  Cover  the  Inhab 
itants  as  wel  as  possible.  I  Shall  Come  to  fort  pit  in 
a  few  Days  if  Nothing  happens.  Sir  I  am  with  Re 
spect  yr  Hum1.  Servt. 

DAVID  SHEPHERD 

To  His  Honor    General  Edward  Hand 


THE   TORY  CONSPIRACY 

[Col.  Thomas  Gaddis  to  Lieut.-Col.  Thomas  Brown1  at  Red 
stone  Old  Fort.    3NNis6,  157 — Transcript.] 

DEAR  SIR — A  certain  person  was  at  my  house  on 
Monday  the  25th  inst,  and  he  made  oath  to  me  that 
the  Tories  have  joined  themselves  together  for  to  cut 
off  the  inhabitants,  and  we  know  not  what  hour  they 
will  rise.  Therefore  it  would  be  proper  that  you 
would  take  a  particular  care  and  keep  a  strong  guard 
over  the  Magazine2  for  a  few  days,  till  we  can  use 
some  means  with  them.  This  day  I  am  starting  with 
a  party  of  men  for  to  succor  the  people  and  suppress 
the  Tories.  I  would  desire  that  you  would  do  your 
utmost  endeavor  and  warn  the  friends  of  our  country 
to  be  upon  their  watch.  Sir,  I  remain  respectfully 
your  friend 

THOS.  GADDIS 
August  26th.    1777. 


1  For  these  officers  of  Monongalia  and  Yohogania  counties, 
see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  pp.  233,  234,  notes  76  and  78  respect 
ively. — ED. 

2  At  Redstone  was   situated  the  powder  magazine   for  the 
Virginia  counties  west  of  the  mountains. — ED. 


52          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


[Thomas  Brown  to  General  Hand.    sNNiss,  156  —  Transcript.] 
REDSTONE  FORT,   Augt  2Qth   1777 

Dr.  SIR  —  Enclosed  you  have  Col.  Gaddis'  letter  to 
me  directed,  from  which  you  may  find  in  what  circum 
stances  our  country  lies  under.  Agreeable  to  Col°. 
Gaddis'  instructions,  I  have  called  a  guard  of  fifteen 
men  for  the  safety  of  the  magazine,  which  I  hope  will 
meet  with  your  approbation.  Any  instructions  from 
your  excellency  shall  be  obeyed  if  in  my  power.  Col° 
Gaddis  and  Capt.  Enochs3  with  about  100  men  are  in 
pursuit  of  the  Tories,  but  their  success  I  have  not  yet 
heard  ;  but  from  different  accounts  it  appears  the  Tor 
ies  are  determined  to  stand  battle.  I  expect  to  hear 
from  Col.  Gaddis  every  hour,  and  shall  transmit  a  full 
account  as  soon  as  possible.  I  have  the  honor  to  be  &c. 

THOMAS  BROWN. 

N.    B.     From   sundry   accts.   the   Tories   are   deter 
mined  to  take  the  Magazine  if  in  their  power. 
Gen1.  Hand. 

Endorsed  :     Col.  Thos.  Brown. 


[Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  to  General  Hand.     3NN65,  66— 
Transcript.] 

August  2Qth.  1777 

May  it  please  yr.  Ex&. — It  is  with  the  utmost  anx 
iety  that  I  now  inform  you  that  our  march  is  retarded 
for  some  time  against  the  natural  enemies  of  our  coun 
try.  A  few  days  ago  the  most  horrid  conspiracy  ap 
peared.  Numbers  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  country 
have  joined  in  a  plot  and  were  assembled  together  to 
join  the  English  and  Indians.  This  forces  me  to  raise 


3  For   Capt.    Henry   Enoch    see   Rev.    Upper   Ohio,   pp.   207, 
235.— ED. 


A  TORY  PLOT  S3 

what  men  were  enlisted  as  well  as  others,  to  put  a  stop 
to  this  unnatural  unheard  of  f  rantick  scene  of  mischief 
that  was  in  the  very  heart  of  our  country.  We  have 
taken  numbers  who  confess  that  they  have  sworn  alle 
giance  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  &  that  some  of 
the  leading  men  at  Fort  Pitt  are  to  be  their  rulers  & 
heads.  The  parties  I  have  out  are  bringing  in  num 
bers  of  those  wretches  &  they  (those  that  confess)  all 
agree  in  their  confession  that  the  English,  French  & 
Indians  will  be  with  you  in  a  few  days,  when  they 
were  with  numbers  of  others  to  embody  themselves,  & 
Fort  Pitt  was  to  be  given  up  with  but  little  opposition ; 
some  are  taken  that  really  astonish  me  out  of  measure. 
Good  heavens!  that  mankind  should  be  so  lost  to 
every  virtue  &  sense  of  their  country.  I  am  this  mo 
ment  informed  that  Gideon  Long  &  Jeremiah  Long, 
two  deserters  are  gone  to  Fort  Pitt  to  deliver  them 
selves  up ;  should  this  be  the  case,  &  as  they  have  been 
very  active  in  this  conspiracy,  I  hope  your  Excy.  will 
punish  them  as  they  deserve.  I  am  now  at  Minor's 
Fort4  with  about  500  men,  &  am  determined  to  purge 
the  country  before  I  disband,  as  it  would  give  me 
much  satisfaction  to  have  this  matter  settled.  I  shall 
wait  yr.  Excellency's  instructions  &  am  with  respect 
your  most  obed^  humble  serv1. 

ZACK  :  MORGAN. 


4  This  was  either  at  Statler's  Fort,  which  Minor  commanded 
(see  ante,  p.  21,  note  46),  or  a  blockhouse  upon  his  property 
in  the  present  Monongalia  township  of  Greene  County,  Pa. 
See  sketch  in  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  235,  note  79. — ED. 


54          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

THE  SIEGE  OF  FORT  HENRY 

[Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Joseph  Doddridge.5     6NNi23-i26 — 
A.  D.] 

Fort  Henry,  at  Wheeling,  was  built  at  the  expense 
of  the  English  Government,  by  the  order  of  the  Earl 
of  Dunmore,  while  on  his  campaign  against  the  In 
dians  in  the  summer  of  1774,  who,  when  he  descended 
the  river  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians  on  the  Scioto,  left 
Colonel  William  Crawford  and  Angus  McDonald, 
with  a  detatchment  of  men  to  build  and  garrison  the 
fort.6 

The  fort  was  substantially  built  of  squared  timbers 
painted  at  the  top  and  furnished  with  bastions  and 
sentry  boxes  at  the  angles.  The  interior  of  the  fort 
contained  an  house  for  the  officers  and  barracks  for 
the  men.  Its  area  was  something  more  than  half  an 
acre. 


5  Joseph  Doddridge  was  born  in   1769  in   Bedford   County, 
Pa.     In  1773  his  father  removed  with  his  family  to  what  is 
now  Washington  County,  not  far  from  the  present  West  Vir 
ginia  line.     Doddridge  was  thus  a  boy  eight  years  old  at  the 
time  of  this  siege,  and  living  in  the  immediate  neighborhood. 
For  several  years  he   was   a   Methodist  preacher,   itinerating 
throughout  the  entire  region.     Later  he  joined  the  Episcopal 
church  and  studied  and  practiced  medicine,  dying  in  1826  at 
his  home  in  Wellsburg.     Two  years  before  his  death  he  pub 
lished  (at  the  last-named  place)  Notes  on  the  Settlement  and 
Indian  Wars  of  the  Western  Parts  of  Virginia  and  Pennsyl 
vania,  in  which  he  embodied  much  of  his  knowledge  of  pio 
neer  days.     There  is  not,  however,  in  this  book  any  account 
of  the  siege   at  Wheeling.     Such  a  manuscript  account  was 
found  among  his  papers,  and  secured  by  Dr.  Draper  from  his 
daughter.     Unfortunately  the  manuscript  is  incomplete,  break 
ing  off  abruptly.     We  have  supplemented  this  account,  there 
fore,  with  recollections  of  other  pioneers. — ED. 

6  See  Dunmore 's  War,  p.  86.— ED. 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY  55 

This  fort  was  designed  for  the  refuge  and  protec 
tion  of  the  lower  settlements  in  this  district  of  coun 
try,  and  being  next  in  strength  and  importance  to  fort 
Pitt,  soon  attracted  the  notice  of  the  Indians  and  their 
English  allies,  who  at  three  different  periods  at 
tempted  to  break  up  the  establishment. 

The  first  attack  on  fort  Henry  took  place  on  the 
first  day  of  September  1777. 

Gen1  Hand  had,  at  that  time,  the  command  of  the 
western  department.  The  Moravian  Indians  who 
had  three  villages  on  the  Muskimgum  about  sixty 
miles  from  the  Ohio  river  were  in  the  practice  of 
sending  runners  to  Gen1  Hand,  with  information  con 
cerning  any  intended  scout  or  campaign  of  the  Indian 
warriors  against  any  of  the  settlements  or  forts  of 
the  white  people. 

About  three  weeks  before  the  attack  of  fort  Henry, 
Gen1  Hand  sent  notice  to  Coln  David  Shepherd,  the 
Lieutenant  Colonel  of  Ohio  County,  that  he  had  re 
ceived  advice  that  fort  Henry  would  be  attacked  in 
short  time,  by  a  large  Indian  force,  aided  by  a  body 
of  british  rangers  from  Detroit.  This  advice  was 
accompanied  with  an  order  to  the  Coln  to  leave  his 
own  fort  which  was  about  six  miles  distant  from  fort 
Henry,  and  take  the  command  of  the  latter  fort.  The 
Coln  was  directed  to  issue  his  orders  to  all  the  Cap 
tains  between  the  Ohio  and  Monongahala,  to  rendez 
vous  at  fort  Henry  with  all  possible  dispatch,  with 
the  whole  number  of  their  men.  Accordingly  Cap 
tains  Williamson,  Virgin,  Crooks,  Miller,  Hathaway, 
and  Ogle,  with  some  others  whose  names  are  not 
recollected,  assembled  with  their  companies  at  the 


56          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

fort.7  Their  number  was  from  four  to  five  hundred 
men. 

The  Indians  not  coming  on  as  soon  as  was  expected, 
some  of  the  Captains,  thinking  the  report  of  the  in 
tended  attack  of  fort  Henry  a  "false  alarm"  left  the 
place  with  their  companies  and  returned  home.  Two 
companies  left  the  place  the  day  before  the  attack. 
Cap1  Ogle,  and  his  company  were  the  only  distant 
troops  at  the  place  at  the  time  of  the  engagament. 
These  troops,  and  those  of  Cap  Mason  of  the  place, 
amounting  in  all  to  about  one  hundred  men,8  consti 
tuted  the  whole  force  which  defended  fort  Henry  at 
its  first  attack. 

About  sunrise,  on  the  day  of  the  attack,  Andrew 
Zane,9  with  a  small  party,  set  out  from  the  fort  to  go 
to  a  place  about  a  mile  distant  to  get  some  horses,  to 
move  a  family  [Dr.  McMechan's]  from  the  fort  up 
the  country  towards  the  Monongahala.  When  this 
party  had  reached  the  brow  of  the  hill,  back  of 
Wheeling,  at  the  spot  where  the  national  turn  pike 
now  passes  it,  they  were  attacked  by  several  Indians, 
who,  however,  did  not  fire  on  them,  but  endeavoured 


7  Dr.  Doddridge  has  mistaken  the  names  of  the  local  com 
mandants.     Captains  Leach,  Marchant,  and  Shannon  were  the 
reinforcing  militia  officers,  all  of  whom  had  departed  previous 
to  the  attack,  except  the  local  company  of  Capt.  Samuel  Ala- 
son,   and   the   supply    from   Beech   Bottom   Fort   under   Capt. 
Joseph  Ogle. — ED. 

8  An   overestimate   of   the   number   of   men.     According  to 
Duke's  account  book   (iSSi40),  Captain  Ogle's  company  con 
sisted  of  thirty-eight  men.     Mason's  was  probably  no  larger 
if  as  large. — ED. 

9  Andrew  Zane  was  one  of  the  brothers  whose   father  was 
noted  ante,  p.  15,  note  36.     They  were  the  founders  and  first 
settlers  of  Wheeling.     Andrew  was  killed  by  Indians;    not  at 
the  siege  of  Wheeling,  but  later  while  scouting. — ED. 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY  57 

to  kill,  or  take  them  prisoners  without  giving  an  alarm. 
One  of  the  party  of  the  name  of  Boyd,  was  caught, 
after  running  about  Eighty  yards,  and  tomahawked. 
Zane  made  his  escape  by  jumping  over  a  cliff  of  rocks 
of  considerable  height.  The  Indians  who  were  run 
ning  after  him,  not  choosing  to  imitate  the  perilous 
leap  he  had  taken  gave  up  the  pursuit.  Zane  was 
much  bruised  in  the  fall,  and  his  gun  was  broken  to 
pieces;  but  in  the  course  of  the  day  he  reached  Col" 
Shepherds  fort.10  One  man  and  a  negro  boy  of  this 
little  party  returned  to  the  fort  and  gave  the  alarm. 

According  to  the  usual  folly  and  rashness  of  our 
militia  of  early  times,  about  twenty  turned  out  of  the 
fort  to  give  battle  to  Indians ;  notwithstanding  the 
advice  of  Genl  Hand,  that  the  place  would  be  attacked 
by  at  least  200  of  the  enemy. 

The  Indians,  after  finishing  their  work  with  the 
small  party,  passed  over  the  top  of  the  hill  and  de 
scended  into  the  bottom,  following  the  bend  of  the 
creek,  until  they  came  to  the  flat  piece  of  ground  at 
the  south  end  of  Wheeling  hill.  In  this  flat  they 
formed  an  ambuscade  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  with 
its  convexity  towards  the  creek,  it[s]  points  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  foot  of  the  hill.  A  considerable 
force  had  also  been  left  among  the  bushes,  on  the 
western  side  of  the  hill,  some  distance  in  front  of  the 


10  Col.  David  Shepherd  lived  at  the  forks  of  Wheeling 
Creek,  where  Little  Wheeling  comes  in,  about  six  miles  above 
Fort  Henry.  He  purchased  this  location  from  Silas  Zane  in 
1773,  and  there  forted  during  the  wars.  According  to  General 
Hand's  orders,  Shepherd  had  removed  to  Fort  Henry,  but 
some  of  the  neighboring  families  remained  in  his  block 
house. — ED. 


58          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

ambuscade  to  prevent  the  escape  of  any  of  our  men, 
in  case  they  should  pursue  the  Indians  and  fall  into 
the  ambuscade. 

The  Indians  in  their  march  over  the  hill,  down  the 
bottom  and  through  the  centre  of  the  ambuscade,  had 
taken  the  precaution  to  make  a  large  trail  so  that  they 
might  be  readily  pursued  so  as  to  draw  our  men  into 
the  snare. 

When  the  party  which  had  left  the  fort,  for  the  pur 
suit  of  the  Indians  had  fallen  on  their  trail,  they  se 
lected  two  or  three  men  to  follow  directly  on  the 
tracks.  The  others  divided  into  two  equal  parties  and 
marched  in  single  file  at  the  distance  of  several  steps 
of  each  other  about  70  yards  to  the  right  and  left  of 
the  trail. 

When  our  party  had  progressed  some  distance  into 
the  flat,  in  which  the  ambuscade  was  formed,  a  soldier 
of  the  name  of  Thomas  Glen,  who  was  marching  next 
to  Captain  Mason,  discovered  an  Indian  on  the  right 
flank  of  the  enemy  whom  he  instantly  shot  down.  The 
first  shot  from  the  Indians  wounded  Cap1  Mason  in 
the  hand  and  carried  off  the  lock  of  his  gun. 

The  battle  then  commenced  with  a11 


[Recollections  of  John  Hanks.12      i2CCi38.] 
From  the  Monongahela,  we  moved  to  within  5  miles 
of  Wheeling;  remaining  there  until  the  Indians  com- 


11  The  manuscript  is  unfinished.     Dr.  Draper,  in  an  append 
ed  note,  says  that  the  latter  portion  was  lost  before  it  came 
into  his  hands. — ED. 

12  John  Hanks  was  born  Nov.  29,  1767,  in  Loudon  County, 
Md.,  and  removed  in  1774  to  the  neighborhood  of  Redstone, 
on  the   Monongahela ;    thence,   as  he   says,   to  the  Wheeling 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY  59 

pelled  us  to  move  into  Wheeling  Fort.  Before  we 
moved  in  one  McBride  was  killed  out  on  the  waters  of 
Wheeling.13  *  *  *  We  went  out  and  around  by 
and  to  Silas  Zane's;14  my  father  being  at  that  time 
over  the  Ohio  (about  a  mile  from  us)  after  Indians. 
******** 

From  Zane's  we  went  to  the  fort.  While  we  were 
there  one  morning,  were  out  Jacob  Coles,  John  Mills 
and  Dr.  McMahon,  looking  for  McMahon's  heifer.15 
McMahon  was  intending  to  move  out  of  the  fort.  I 
was  out  at  the  spring,  when  the  firing  was  heard. 


neighborhood.  Hanks  was,  therefore,  a  boy  of  ten  and  in 
the  fort  during  the  siege.  In  1786  the  family  removed  to 
Kentucky  and  settled  in  Montgomery  County,  whence  Hanks 
went  out  as  scout  and  hunter.  There,  on  the  Spruce  fork  of 
Slate  River,  he  was  interviewed  by  John  D.  Shane. — ED. 

13  See  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  250.— ED. 

14  Silas  Zane  was  among  the  first  settlers  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Wheeling.     He  was  himself  not  present  at  the  first 
siege  in   1777,  being  a  captain  in  the  I3th  Virginia,  and  on 
service  in  the  Eastern  states.     Hanks  here  refers  to  Shep 
herd's   blockhouse,   at  what  had   been   Silas  Zane's  location. 
Zane  returned  to  the  Ohio  before  the  close  of  the  Revolution, 
and  was  at  Fort  Henry  during  the  siege  of  1782.    At  the  close 
of  the  Revolution  he  went  with  George  Green  to  the  Indian 
country,  with  goods  for  a  trader  from  Maryland.     On  their 
return,  about   1785,  the  two  traders  were  waylaid  and  mur 
dered  on  the  Scioto.     Silas  Zane  left  an  infant  son  of  the 
same  name. — ED. 

15  There  were  two  brothers  McMechen  (usually  pronounced 
McMahon)    in  the  neighborhood  of  Wheeling — William,  the 
founder  of  the  pioneer  family  of  that  name ;    and  Dr.  James, 
a  physician  of  Scotch  origin,  who  came  from  Delaware  to  the 
Ohio  and  was  for  a  time  clerk  of  Ohio  County.     During  the 
Revolution  James  returned  to  the  East  and  never  came  back 
to  the  frontier.     His  brother  William  settled  six  miles  below 
Wheeling.     His  family  was  at  Redstone  during  the  troubles 
on  the  frontier,  and  later  returned  to  their  Ohio  River  home, 
where   they   became   prominent    in    early   West   Virginia    an 
nals. — ED. 


60          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

About  twenty  men  seized  their  guns  and  ran  out. 
Jacob  Coles  and  John  Mills  were  killed,  and  Dr.  Mc- 
Mahon  wounded.16  The  Indians  seemed  to  have  made 
as  much  sign  as  possible.  When  they  got  to  the  mouth 
of  Wheeling  to  which  the  trace  led,  John  Saunders  said 
to  the  Company,  "I  wish  we  were  over  the  other  side 
of  the  River."  Some  one  said  they  wouldn't  wish  to 
be  over  the  other  side.  They  believed  there  were 
plenty  of  Indians  that  side.  Letters  were  found  on 
the  trail,  left  by  the  Indians  inviting  the  pursuers  to 
come  over  and  join  them  that  if  they  would  bring  a 
flag  they  shouldn't  be  hurt,  and  should  have  fine  quar 
ters  at  Detroit.  Dreading  some  evil  consequences 
from  these  letters,  all  the  members  of  the  party  were 
mutually  sworn  not  to  divulge  the  secret  of  their  con 
tents,  for  the  next  six  months. 
******** 

Dr.  McMahon  sent  an  Irishman,  and  his  black  man 
London,  out  in  the  morning  to  get  the  oxen.  When 
they  got  out,  the  Indians  were  in  ambush  and  took 
after  them.  The  Irishman  was  overtaken  and  toma 
hawked;  but  the  negro,  who  was  too  swift  for  them 
rushed  into  the  fort,  and  cried  "Indians,  Indians." 
The  men  in  the  fort  snatched  up  their  guns,  and  ran. 
some  without  their  hats.17  A  high  mountain  puts  in 
just  by  Wheeling.  There  the  Indians  drew  the  pur- 


16  The  narrator  has  mistaken  the  persons;  it  was  John  Boyd 
who  was  killed.     Dr.  McMechen  did  not  leave  the  fort.     The 
first    party    consisted    of    P>oyd,    Samuel    Tomlinson,    Andrew 
Zane,  and  the  negro  London. — ED. 

17  This   was   Mason's  party,   ordered   out  by   Colonel   Shep 
herd.    The  number  is  variously  given;    probably  it  was  fifteen, 
all  but  two  of  whom  were  killed. — ED. 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY  61 

suing  party  to  follow  them  round  this  mountain,  hav 
ing  others  prepared  to  follow  them  in  the  rear,  till 
they  closed  in  on  both  sides,  and  the  whole  party  but 
two  cut  off.  These  were  Sam.  Mason  (a  Captain) 
and  one  Caldwell,18  who  did  not  get  started  as  soon 
as  the  others,  and  so  were  not  surrounded.  Mason 
and  his  sergeant  encountered  two  Indians,  Mason 
called  on  the  sergeant  to  shoot.  Both  shot  on  both 
sides.  Both  the  Indians  and  the  sergeant,  named 
Steell,  were  killed  and  Mason  wounded.  He  now 
crept  down  under  the  banks  of  \Yheeling  Creek, 
where  he  lay  till  night,  and  then  got  on  to  Shepherd's 
fort,  about  six  miles.19 


18  John  Caldwell  was  born  in  Ireland  Jan.  22,  1753.  While 
still  a  boy  his  parents  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  first 
at  Baltimore.  In  1773  Caldwell  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Wheeling,  and  was  for  several  years  in  the  Indian  wars.  In 
1774  he  was  out  with  Dunmore.  In  October,  1776,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  William  Harrod,  Caldwell  was  one  of  a 
party  from  Grave  Creek  Fort  that  went  down  the  river  to 
rescue  the  wounded  and  bury  the  dead  of  Robert  Patterson's 
party,  coming  from  Kentucky  (see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  pp.  207, 
210,  213).  The  next  year  Caldwell  was  a  volunteer  under 
Capt.  Samuel  Mason.  At  first  stationed  at  Shepherd's  Fort, 
he  was  at  Fort  Henry  during  the  siege.  His  son  related  to 
Dr.  Draper  (35141-144^  that  Caldwell  ran  up  the  hill  to  es 
cape  the  ambuscade,  tripped  and  fell,  and  was  wedged  in  be 
tween  two  trees.  Seeing  an  Indian  pursuing  him,  he  wrenched 
himself  loose  with  great  effort,  just  as  the  Indian  threw  his 
tomahawk,  which  missed  its  aim,  and  Caldwell  escaped  to 
Shepherd's  Fort  six  miles  up  the  creek.  In  1778  and  1779 
Caldwell  was  a  volunteer  guard  at  Wheeling,  and  in  the  latter 
year  went  on  Brodhead's  campaign;  he  also  served  awhile  at 
Rail's  Fort  on  Buffalo  Creek.  He  lived  on  Wheeling  Creek, 
about  fourteen  miles  above  its  mouth,  until  his  death  in  1840, 
and  at  one  time  drew  a  pension  for  his  services.  His  pension 
documents  are  in  Draper  MSS.,  6ZZ6o-66. — ED. 

19Withers,  who  obtained  his  information  from  Noah,  son 
of  Ebenezer  Zane,  tells  a  story  of  the  close  pursuit  of  Mason, 
who  having  been  twice  wounded  was  faint  from  loss  of  blood. 


62          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

[Recollections  of  Mrs.  Joseph  Stagg.20  1200236,237.] 
Col.  Ebenezer  Zane's  cabin  was  right  where  the 
fort  stood.  The  fort  was  handsomely  stockaded,  at 
King's  expense.  White  Eyes  came  to  Fort  Pitt,  and 
told  them  that  the  Indians  were  going  to  take  Wheel 
ing  home.  White  Eyes  was  sometimes  thought  to  be 
of  both  sides.  Col°.  Shepherd  sent  to  Fort  Pitt,  and 
obtained  70  men  of  the  militia;  but  returned  them 
again  on  Sunday  morning,  saying  they  had  eaten  too 
much  beef  for  nothing.  Immediately  after  he  had 
sent  them  away,  he  sent  to  Mingo  bottom  for  25  oth 
ers.21  The  first  company  [Captain  Shannon's],  it 
was  supposed  the  Indians  had  seen  go  away,  and  by 


The  Indian  came  so  near  that  Mason  thrust  him  back  with 
his  hand;  and  then  firing,  he  killed  his  red  antagonist.  After 
this  he  hid  behind  a  fallen  tree,  and  after  nightfall  made  his 
escape.  See  Border  Warfare,  p.  223. — ED. 

20  Mrs.  Joseph   Stagg  was  the  daughter  of  Edward  Mills, 
sister  of  John  Mills,  who  took  an  important  part  in  the  second 
siege  of  Wheeling.     At  the  time  of  the  first  siege   of   Fort 
Henry,  she  was  the  wife  of  Capt.  Jacob  Drennon,  a  prominent 
Kentucky    pioneer.      Her    granddaughter    told    Dr.    Draper 
(2iSi68)  that  when  the  alarm  came  she  fled  to  the  fort  with 
her  infant,  but  in  her  flight  left  an  adopted  boy  in  the  cabin. 
Remembering  this  she  hastened  from  the  fort,  although  the 
gates   were  closing,   wrapped  the  boy   in   a   feather  bed,  and 
ran  back  to  the  fort  unharmed,  although  several  bullets  from 
Indian  guns  lodged  within  the  bed.   The  Drennons  afterwards 
removed  to  Kentucky,  settling  in  Mason  County,  where  Cap 
tain  Drennon  was  killed.     His  widow  married  Joseph  Stagg 
and   for  many  years   lived   in   Fleming  County.     She  died  in 
1845,    aged    ninety,    at    her    son-in-law's    home    in    Harrison 
County,  Ky. — ED. 

21  This  refers  to  Captain  Mason's  company,  who  had  been 
scouting  as  far  as  Beech  Bottom  Fort.     But  the  narrator  errs 
in  stating  that  they  came  in  after  the  siege  began.     See  Shep 
herd's  letter  of  Aug.  28,  ante,  p.  50. — ED. 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY  63 

the  time  the  sun  was  up,  on  Monday  morning,  the  In 
dians  attacked  the  fort. 

One  McMahon  sent  out  some  young  men,  to  catch 
his  horses ;  he  and  Jacob  Drennon22  were  going  away. 
Drennon  wouldn't  venture  so  to  do  [send  for  horses]. 
When  the  Doctor's  negro  came  out  to  a  thick  wood, 
he  said,  "Why  this  looks  as  if  it  might  be  a  good  place 
for  the  Indians  to  hide."  At  that  they  started  up. 
They  had  like  to  have  caught  the  negro,  but  he  got  in. 
John  Boyd,  a  youth  was  killed  with  their  tomahawks 
and  scalped.  Five  or  six  men  ran  out,  tied  his  hands 
and  feet,  got  a  pole  between  them,  and  so  got  him  in. 
The  Indians  had  gone  to  another  point.  Andrew 
Zane,  a  brother  of  the  colonel,  jumped  down  a  steep, 
afterwards  measured  to  be  70  feet,  without  injury. 
Sammy  Tomlinson  was  out  too,  and  got  in;  but 
went  out  again  with  25  and  was  killed.  Capt. 
Mason  commanded  the  25  men  that  came  from  Mingo 
bottom,  they  got  in  along  the  port  sally  gate.  The 
Indians  then  thought  the  fort  open,  and  gave  wonder 
ful  shouts  and  yells,  and  rushed  to  it,  and  they  said 
they  just  came,  15  or  20  in  a  gang,  holding  each 


22  One  of  his  descendants  related  (i2BB)  that  Jacob  Dren 
non  was  born  in  Greenbriar  County,  Va.,  educated  in  England, 
and  commissioned  in  the  English  army;  that  he  returned  to 
America  with  Lord  Dunmore,  and  would  take  no  part  either 
for  or  against  the  colonies.  It  is  known  that  in  1773  he  was 
in  Kentucky  with  McAfee's  party,  and  visited  the  lick  known 
thereafter  as  Drennon's.  In  1774  he  was  with  Dunmore  on 
the  Ohio,  and  although  frequently  in  Kentucky  made  his  home 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Wheeling.  He  was  shot  in  1787  when 
descending  the  Ohio.  Knowing  that  he  was  mortally  wound 
ed,  he  jumped  from  the  boat  into  the  river,  that  the  Indians 
should  not  secure  his  scalp. — ED. 


64  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

other's  hand.  The  men  complained  that  the  women 
kept  so  in  their  way  looking  out  at  the  portholes,  they 
couldn't  do  a  thing.  A  great  trail  was  left  where  the 
Indians  had  dragged  their  dead  to  the  river.  Twenty 
men  staid  in,  25  went  out.  *  *  *  The  25  men 
went  out  to  head  them.  15  were  killed,  I  suppose  at 
once  and  5  were  wounded.23 

Francis  Duke,  Col.  Shepherd's  son-in-law,  came 
from  Vanmetre's  fort,  and  couldn't  be  made  to  stop 
(commissary  of  the  fort).24  Col.  Zane  had  just  fin 
ished  him  a  good  house,  all  to  one  window,  shingle- 
roofed.  *  *  *  Women  ran  bullets  in  frying  pans, 
and  two  shot.  Mrs.  Duke  cut  bullet  patches  out  of  a 
700  linen  piece,  like  one  cutting  out  shirts.  And  one 
Scotchman  prayed  all  day.  Rain  came  up,  just  after 


23  This  refers  to  the  whole  number  killed  and  wounded  dur 
ing  the  siege ;    see  Shepherd's  letter,  post.     The  narrator  does 
not    distinguish    between    the    two    sorties   of    Captain    Mason 
and  Captain  Ogle.     A  dense  fog  overhung  the  place.     Those 
in  the   fort  could  hear  the  sounds  of   combat,  but  could  not 
perceive  the  number  of  the  enemy.     Captain  Ogle,  with  a  small 
number,  probably  not  more  than  twelve,  issued  out  to  the  aid 
of  Mason's  men,  but  were  immediately  included  in  the  massa 
cre. — ED. 

24  Francis  Duke  was  born  in  Ireland  Feb.  n,  1/51.     Thence 
the  family  emigrated  to  the  present  Berkeley  County,  \V.  Va., 
where   in   1773   Duke  married  Sarah,  eldest  daughter  of  Col. 
David  Shepherd.     Thence  he  removed  with  the  latter's  family 
to  Wheeling  Creek.     He  had  been  appointed  by  his  father-in- 
law  deputy  commissary,  and  as  such  was  stationed  at  Beech 
Bottom  Fort.     It  was  probably  from  there  that  he  approached 
Fort  Henry  some  time  in  the  afternoon  of  Sept.   T,  and  was 
shot  down  near  the  gate.     The  entry  in  the  family  genealogy 
is,  "September  the  I  day  1777.      ffrancis  Duke  was  kled  by  the 
Sageus  [Savages]."     His  notebook  is  in  Draper  MSS.,iSSi49, 
wherein  his  last  entry  was  Aug.  30.     He  left  an  infant  son 
John,  and  a  posthumous  son   Francis,  whose  descendants  are 
numerous  in   Ohio  and  the  West.     His  widow   married   Levi 
Springer. — En. 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY  65 

the  town  was  set  on  fire.  The  women  brought  up 
water  in  tubs,  and  scrubbed  [drenched]  the  roofs. 
That  night  the  Indians  left. 


[Portion  of  reminiscences  of  Mrs.  Lydia  Cruger.25 
28148-151.] 

Mason  received  a  flesh  wound  in  the  hip,  and  hid 
himself  in  a  fallen  tree  top,  full  of  green  leaves.  In 
dians  hunted  all  around  him,  he  seeing  them,  in  the 
night  he  escaped  to  some  neighboring  fort.  Captain 
Ogle  escaped  to  the  cornfield  with  a  wounded  man, 
and  concealed  themselves  in  the  high  horse  weeds; 
and  while  there,  a  wounded  Indian,  blood  running 
down  and  crying,  and  another  Indian  with  him,  both 
sitting  on  the  fence  within  a  hansel26  of  Pgle;  and  >  &^1  \ 

25  Lydia  Boggs  was  born  Feb.  26,  1766,  in  Berkeley  County, 
W.  Va.    In  1768  the  family  removed  to  the  Youghiogheny,  and 
thence  in   1771  to  Beeler's  Fort    (now  Uniontown).     In   1777 
they  lived  on  Buffalo  Creek,  where  Capt.  John  Boggs  com 
manded  a  militia  company.    In  August,  1781,  the  Boggs  house 
hold  removed  to  a  spot  three  miles  below  Wheeling,  but  in 
1782   retreated  to   Fort  Henry  and   were  present   during  the 
second  siege.     Shortly  afterward  Lydia  married   Moses,   son 
of  Col.  David  Shepherd,  and  lived  at  his  homestead  until  her 
husband's  death  in  1832.     The    following    year    she    married 
Gen.  Daniel  Cruger,  but  kept  her  home  at  the  old  stone  man 
sion  on  Wheeling  Creek  until  her  death  in  September,  1867. 
She  was  a  woman  of  extraordinary  memory,  and  great  intel 
lectual  power.    Her  reminiscences  are  entitled  to  much  credit, 
except  where  warped  by  personal  prejudice.    Although  not  an 
inmate  of  the  fort  when  it  was  besieged  in   1777,  her  close 
association  with  the  Shepherd  family,  and  her  knowledge  of 
the  frontier  people,  make  her  account  thereof  approximately 
accurate  and  certainly  interesting.    For  a  description  of  a  visit 
to  Mrs.  Cruger  see  West  Virginia  Historical  Magazine,  July, 
1903.— ED. 

26  The  word  seems  to  be  used  in  the  sense  of  a  hand's  reach, 
although  no  such  significance  is  ordinarily  attributed  to  this 
term. — ED. 

5 


66  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  OX  UPPER  OHIO 

Ogle  expecting  every  moment  to  be  discovered,  he  lay 
with  gun  cocked,  intending  if  discovered  to  sell  his 
life  as  dearly  as  possible.  Those  Indians  remained  on 
the  fence,  and  finally  went  away.  In  the  night  Ogle 
took  the  wounded  man  with  him  into  the  fort. 

Three  of  the  men,  William  Shepherd  (oldest  son 
of  Col.  David  Shepherd),  Hugh  McConnell,  and 
Thomas  Glenn  started  from  the  defeated  spot  for  the 
fort,  and  young  Shepherd  (only  nineteen)  as  he 
neared  the  fort,  his  foot  caught  in  a  grapevine  and 
threw  him,  and  before  he  could  recover,  the  Indians 
tomahawked  and  scalped  him.  Glenn  was  chased 
above  the  fort  a  little  distance  up  the  river,  and  was 
overtaken  and  killed.  McConnell  reached  the  fort.27 
John  Caldwell  escaped  to  Shepherd's  Fort,  six  miles 
from  Wheeling  at  the  Forks  of  Wheeling  [Creek], 
where  the  neighborhood  forted ;  though  Colonel  Shep 
herd  himself  was  at  Wheeling.  Town  lots  had  been 
sold,  and  several  had  built  cabins  and  lived  in  them, 
outside  of  Fort  Henry ;  and  at  this  alarm,  unexpected, 
the  people  flew  to  the  fort,  leaving  all  their  property 
in  their  cabins,  all  which  was  plundered ;  and  some  of 
the  cabins  were  burned;  and  others  were  seized  and 
occupied  by  the  Indians  from  which  to  fight.  Francis 


27  William  Shepherd  was  the  oldest  son  of  Col.  David  Shep 
herd,  and  had  married  Rebecca  McConnell,  by  whom  he  left 
one  child.  In  January,  1790,  Rebecca  Shepherd  petitioned  the 
state  of  Virginia  for  a  pension  in  recognition  of  her  husband's 
services  (Draper  MSS.,  7NN2O). 

The  estate  of  Thomas  Glenn  was  probated  in  1778,  together 
with  that  of  Francis  Duke.  He  had  been  surveying  on  the 
Ohio  in  1774;  see  Dunmore's  War,  pp.  7,  116. 

Hugh  McConnell  was  ensign  in  the  Ohio  County  militia  in 
1778.  His  sister  Rebecca  was  the  wife  of  William  Shep 
herd. — ED. 


MRS.  LVDIA  (BOGGS-SHEPHERD)  CRUGER 
From  West  I'irginia  Historical  Magazine,  iii,  p.  203 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY  67 

Duke  (a  son-in-law  of  Colonel  Shepherd,  and  deputy- 
commissary)  came  from  the  Beech  Bottom  Station, 
above,  about  noon,  and  came  among  the  Indians, 
before  he  was  aware  of  danger,  and  made  a  dash  for 
the  fort  and  was  shot  dead,  some  seventy-five  yards 
from  the  fort,  so  near  that  the  Indians  did  not  venture 
for  his  scalp,  until  after  nightfall,  when  they  dragged 
his  body  into  one  of  the  cabins  and  scalped  and 
stripped  him.  The  Indians  shot  down  large  numbers 
of  cattle,  hogs,  geese,  and  took  a  good  many  horses. 
Soon  after  dark  they  decamped,  thought  to  have  been 
300  Indians;  probably  Girty  was  not  with  them.28 
******** 

The  first  siege  of  Wheeling  was  on  Monday,  1st 
September.  That  was  muster  day  at  Cat  Fish  camp 
under  Capt.  John  Boggs  and  Capt.  Reasin  Virgin,29 


28  Many  legends  have  grown  up   about  the  siege  of   Fort 
Henry.     None  of  them  is  more   persistent  than  that   Simon 
Girty  was  the  leader  of  the  attacking  party.     But  at  this  time 
(J777)    Girty  was  in  Pittsburgh  and  had  not  yet  escaped  to 
the  British.     It  seems  probable  that  no  white  men  were  with 
the   Indians   at   this   siege.     The   aboriginals    engaged   in   the 
attack  were  chiefly  Wyandot  and  Mingo,  with  a  few  Shawnee 
and    Delawares — a   total    of    about   two   hundred   in   number. 
One  Wyandot  was  killed,  and  nine  of  the  assailants  wounded. 
See  Zeisberger's  letter  of  Sept.  22,  post. — ED. 

29  Capt.  John  Boggs  was  born  on  the  Susquehanna  in  1736. 
He  was  taken  when  a  child  to  Berkeley  County,  Va.,  and  in 
1768  came  out  to  the  Youghiogheny.     In  1771  he  was  at  Bee- 
son's  Fort   (Uniontown,  Pa.),  and  three  years  later  made  an 
improvement  on  Chartier's  Creek,  about  three  miles  west  of 
Catfish  Camp.     He  was  at  this  latter  station  when  the  siege 
of    Wheeling    occurred.     In    1781,    while    living    on    Buffalo 
Creek,  his  oldest  son  was  captured.     In  August  of  the  same 
year  he  built  a  cabin  three  miles  below  Wheeling,  and  in  the 
spring  of  the  next  year  removed  his   family  to  Fort  Henry 
for  safety.     Captain  Boggs  was  sent  for  reinforcements  wheii 
the  siege  of  1782  took  place,  but  returned  just  after  the  be- 


68  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

and  while  mustering,  towards  evening,  an  express 
came  that  Wheeling  was  attacked  and  Boggs  and  Vir 
gin  and  their  men  immediately  resolved  to  start  off, 
and  marched  all  night  and  reached  Wheeling  early 
Tuesday  morning,  all  the  Indians  had  gone,  helped 
to  bury  the  dead ;  and  haul  off  the  swollen  dead  cattle 
into  the  river.30 


[Court  Martial  for  Ohio  County,  Oct.  13,  1778.     28833.] 
Ordred  that  Captain  Samuel  Mason  be  paid  Seven 
Dollars  for  a  Drum  Purchased  for  his  Company  Use 
and  Lost  by  the  Attact  of  the  Enemy  against  Fort 
Henry  Septr  1st  1777. 


siegers  had  departed.  He  had  expected  to  remove  to  Ken 
tucky,  which  he  visited  in  1776,  but  the  Revolution  kept  him 
occupied  on  the  Ohio  frontier.  In  17/8  he  was  out  with  Mc- 
]ntosh  in  command  of  a  company,  and  for  many  years  was  a 
militia  captain.  His  final  removal  was  to  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  died  in  February,  1824. 

For  Capt.  Reazin  Virgin  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  207,  note 
49.— ED. 

30  There  is  a  persistent  tradition  of  the  arrival  of  a  relief 
party  at  Wheeling  while  the  Indians  were  still  about  the  fort. 
It  is  alleged  that  on  this  occasion  Maj.  Samuel  McColloch 
leaped  down  Wheeling  hill  on  horseback.  If  any  such  event 
occurred  during  a  siege  of  Wheeling,  it  must  have  been  that 
of  1781,  for  McColloch  was  killed  before  the  siege  of  1782; 
and  there  are  no  evidences  of  any  incident  of  the  kind  during 
the  attack  of  1777.  In  all  probability  McColloch's  famous 
leap  was  taken  during  some  one  of  the  escapes  from  a  small 
marauding  party  of  Indians,  such  as  constantly  infested  the 
border.  No  doubt  that  in  the  imagination  of  the  frontier 
narrators,  the  story  grew  to  proportions  far  beyond  the 
facts.— ED. 


COLLECTING  RECRUITS  69 

WESTMORELAND  FRONTIER 

[Capt.  Samuel  Moorhead  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      lUSp— 
A.  L.  S.] 

KlTTANING   Septr.  2d.    1777 

SIR— Recd.  your  favour  of  the  2ist.  Aug1.  With 
Pleasure  But  upon  Cap1.  Millers31  Arival  who 
brought  20  Beef  Cattle  Findes  there  is  not  a  Rein 
forcement  Coming  here.  Therefore  as  we  are  situ 
ated  and  treated,  you  Cannot  be  surprisd  if  you 
shoud  here,  shortly,  of  our  being  Cut  off  in  Part,  or 
the  whole,  If  it  shoud  be  the  case,  I  hope  these  will 
be  part  of  the  discharge  of  my  duty,  with  makeing  use 
of  Such  means  as  it  Shall  Please  God  to  put  in  my 
Power  In  whom  I  put  my  whole  dependance  for  the 
Preservation  of  these  few  men  As  allso  his  Other  mer 
cies,  which  I  truste  will  be  Sofetient,  Though  the 
Aspect  be  bad  no  Other  means  being  Usd,  Having 
3  or  4  new  recrutes  at  hannastown  Mr.  Jack32  will 
Call  for  Arms  for  them,  the  Arms  here  being  Out  of 
Oarder,  I  am  with  Obediance  your  Hum  Serv*.  Sir 

SAML  MOORHEAD 
On   Public   Service       Gen1.  Edwd.  Hand       Commanding  the 

Westrin  Departement  Fort  pitt      favrd  by  Cap1.  Miller 

31  Capt.  Samuel  Miller,  of  the  8th  Pennsylvania  Continental 
regiment,  had  his  home  on  Big  Sewickley  Creek,  not  far  from 
Greensburg,  in  Westmoreland  County,  and  thence  he  marched 
in  1776  to  join  the  Eastern  army.     He  was  at  Valley  Forge 
in  January,  1778,  and  in  March  was  ordered  West  to  Pitts 
burgh.    July  7  of  the  same  year,  as  he  was  taking  reinforce 
ments  to  Fort  Hand,  he  was  set  upon  by  Indians  and  he  and 
his  entire  party  were  killed. — ED. 

32  Lieut.  William  Jack,  a  brother  of  the  more  famous  Capt. 
Matthew  Jack  of  the  8th   Pennsylvania.     The    Jack    family 
came  from  Ireland  and  settled  near  the  present  Greensburg, 
Pa.     William  was   for  several  years  lieutenant  under  Moor- 
head ;   later  he  was  county  judge,  and  died  at  his  home  Feb.  /, 
1821.    In  1882  his  descendants  still  owned  the  homestead. — ED. 


70  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

[Devereux  Smith  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      lUgo — A.  L.  S.] 

HANNASTOWN  Septr  2<3  1777 

DEAR  SIR — A  party  Consisting  of  one  Rendered 
and  odd,  Set  of  under  the  Command  of  Colonels 
Procktor  Lochry  Smith1'8  &c  in  ordor  to  find  Coll 
Campble  &  fore  othar  Men  Said  to  be  Kild  neer  Con- 
nemoch,34  The  Came  to  the  hous  &  found  Letters 


33  For    Col.    John    Proctor    see    Rev.    Upper    OJiio,    p.    200, 
note  37. 

Col.  Archibald  Lochry  is  noted  ante,  p.  39,  note  79. 

The  Colonel  Smith  here  mentioned  would  seem  to  be 
James  Smith,  the  well-known  captive  of  1755-59.  He  states 
in  his  book.  Account  of  the  Remarkable  Occurrences  (Dar 
lington's  edition,  Cincinnati,  1870),  p.  134,  that  he  returned 
to  Westmoreland  County  in  1778.  His  editor,  however,  finds 
documentary  evidence  to  prove  that  he  was  there  in  the 
autumn  of  1777,  and  probably  he  was  the  person  here  men 
tioned.  Born  in  1737  he  was  captured  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
returned  home  in  1760,  served  in  Bouquet's  expedition  in 
1764,  and  explored  Kentucky  two  years  later.  Having  settled 
in  Westmoreland  he  was  chosen  to  the  Virginia  convention 
of  1776,  and  a  member  of  the  assembly  the  following  year. 
In  1779  he  led  an  expedition  up  the  Allegheny  to  destroy 
Indian  towns.  In  1788  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
died  in  1812. — ED. 

34  Charles  Campbell  was  a  descendant  of  the  Argyle  family, 
one  of  whom  fled  to  America  after  the  battle  of   Culloden. 
Charles   settled   and  built   a  mill   on   Blacklick   Creek,   in  the 
present  Indiana  County  in  early  days  a  part  of  Westmoreland. 
He    and    four    friends,    Randall    Laughlin,   John    Gibson    and 
brother,  and  one  Dickson  were  out  looking  for  horses.    W'hile 
preparing  a  meal  in  Laughlin's  cabin  they  were  surprised  by 
a  party  of  Indians,  who  told  them  that  if  they  would  surren 
der  they  should  not  be  harmed.     Campbell  was  allowed    (as 
this  letter  states)   to  append  a  note  to  a  proclamation,  telling 
of  their  capture.    They  were  taken  to  Detroit,  and  afterwards 
to  Canada,  where  three  of  them  were  exchanged,  two — Dick- 
son  and  Gibson — having  died  in  captivity.     At  the  time  of  his 
capture,    Campbell   was    lieutenant-colonel    of   the   county,    an 
office   again    given    him    after   his    return.      Later    he   became 
county  lieutenant,  and   as   such  was  prominent  in  the  West- 


COLLECTING  RECRUITS  71 

Left  their  to  the  Same  Porport  of  those  Left  by  the 
Dead  Bodyes  at  Kattaning  Signed  Guy  Carlton,  ouer 
Peeples  Was  attacted  Whith  Coll  Lochry  at  thire 
Head  about  5  or  6  Milles  from  Wallises  Mill35  Wee 
Left  one  Campble  Shot  Dead  on  the  Spot,  he  being  in 
the  front,  the[y]  Discovered  only  a  Leven  Indians, 
Wo  all  Made  thire  Escape  Coll  Campbile  Wrote  at 
the  Bottom  of  one  of  Mr  Carltons  Letters  That  he  & 
the  fore  Men  that  Was  With  him  Was  all  takon  Pris- 
nors  &  used  Well  This  acct  I  have  from  thre  of  Coll 
Smiths  Party  Just  Retorning  Home 

Mrs  Hanna36  informs  Me  this  Morning  that  Shee 
Was  informed  two  Days  Since  at  Cap1  Lochrys,  that 
Mr  Kelley  Was  intended  to  Mouve  Down  the  Contery 
in  a  few  Days ;  &  that  he  Was  at  a  Loss  What  to  Do 


moreland  defense  during  the  Indian  wars  (1/89-95).  In  1827 
he  was  an  associate  judge  of  the  county,  and  died  about  ten 
years  later  at  his  original  seat  on  Blacklick  Creek,  Indiana 
County:  see  7XXi59.  His  brother  Richard  was  on  Lochry's 
expedition,  being  killed  in  the  affray. — ED. 

35  Richard  Wallace  had  a  mill  and  blockhouse  on  McGee's 
Run,  a  branch  of  the  Conemaugh,  which  was  established  as 
early  as  1774.     It  was  a  centre  for  ranging  parties,  and  was 
often  attacked ;    see  post.     Richard  Wallace  was  with  Lochry 
in  1781,  and  returned  after  captivity,  only  to  be  killed  by  In 
dians  four  years  later  on  an  expedition  to  choose  lands ;    see 
on  this  attack,  Penna.  Archives,  v.  p.  741. — ED. 

36  Mrs.  Hanna  was  the  wife  of  Robert,  proprietor  and  inn 
keeper    at    Hannastown.     She   was   a    woman    of    ability    and 
character,  and  much  revered  in  her  neighborhood.     In  July, 
1782,  she  was  captured  at  the  siege  of  Hannastown.     On  that 
occasion   she  saved  the  life  of   Capt.   Matthew  Jack,  by  her 
resource  and  quickness  in  giving  warning  (6XXi89).     Taken 
to  Detroit,  she  won  favor  with  the  Indians  and  British,  was 
sent  prisoner  to  Montreal,  and  at  the  Peace  of  Paris  was  re 
stored  to  her  home. — ED. 


72  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

With  your  Creetters      I  am  Sir  your  obedeant  Hum- 
bel  Servant 

DEVEREUX  SMITH37 
To  General  Edward  Hand 

To   the   Honnorable   General  Edward   Hand    Commanding 
The  Forth  Department    Pittsburgh 


SIEGE   OF   FORT   HENRY  REPORTED 

[Col.   David  Shepherd  to  General  Hand.      3NNi47 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  HENRY,  Septr.  3d   1777. 

SIR — Whereas  I  have  sent  Mr.  Robinson38  to  you, 
who  can  inform  you  in  particular  of  what  happened 
us  in  our  late  dreadful  action  with  the  Indians,  you 
may  rely  on  him  for  the  particulars,  as  he  assisted 
through  the  whole  of  it,  better  than  I  can  write  to  you 
at  present.  Wre  stand  in  great  need  of  provision  & 
men,  &  likewise  some  cash  to  pay  some  of  the  work 
men  who  have  lost  every  thing  they  had &  for  some 

other  purposes.  Mr.  Robinson  and  myself  have  ad 
vanced  all  that  was  in  our  power.  Of  the  number  of 
the  dead  and  wounded,  he  can  inform  you.  Our 
whole  reliance  now,  Sir,  must  be  on  you  for  succour. 
I  am,  Sir,  yr.  humble  serv1., 

DAVID  SHEPHERD 
Gen1.  Hand. 


37  Devereux   Smith  was  a  prominent  settler  of  Westmore 
land  County.    During  the  troubles  with  Connolly  in  1774,  over 
the  Pennsylvania- Virginia  jurisdiction,  he  maintained  the  side 
of  the  former  and  was  once  arrested  during  the  contest,  and 
carried  to  Stanton.     He  held  some  office  in  the  militia  during 
the   Revolution,   and   as   late   as   1795  was   living  three   miles 
from  Pittsburgh. — ED. 

38  Capt.    John    Robinson,    mentioned    in    Rev.    Upper   Ohio, 
pp.  230,  231,  note  72. — ED. 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  HENRY  73 


[Col.  John  Gibson  to  General  Hand.     lUgi—  A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  Septr  4th  1777 

DEAR  SIR  —  This  moment  I  Recieved  your  letter, 
and  accordingly  have  Examined  all  Major  Smallmans 
papers  which  we  coud  find  in  presence  of  the  persons 
you  directed,  we  can  find  none  but  papers  of  an  old 
date,  I  Immagine  any  others,  if  any,  are  out  of  the 
Way.  Nothing  material  has  happened  since  you  left 
us,  Simon  Girty39  made  his  Escape  on  Sunday,  But 
he  Returned  next  night  and  is  now  safe.  We  have  a 
flying  Report  of  Wheeling  Being  Attacked  last  Mon 
day  by  a  party  of  100  hundred  Indians,  that  Cap1. 
Mason  sallied  out  with  some  of  the  Garrison  and  was 
wounded  in  the  Hip  and  Wrist  But  I  am  in  hopes  the 
news  is  without  foundation.  Gen1.  Howe  is  landed 
at  Turkey  point  near  Charles  town  in  Maryland,  this 
we  have  by  Cap*.  Sullivan.  I  am  Dear  Sir  with  much 
Respect  your  most  Obedient  humble  Serv1. 

JN°.  GIBSON 

On  the  public  Service  For  The  Honourable  Brigadier  General 
Hand  at  Redstone 


39  Maj.  Thomas  Smallman  and  Simon  Girty  were  both  ac 
cused  of  being  concerned  in  the  Loyalist  plot.  Smallman's 
papers  were  searched  but  no  evidence  found.  Girty  was 
placed  in  the  guardhouse,  whence  he  escaped  but  on  the  suc 
ceeding  day  returned  of  his  own  accord.  Girty  thereafter 
served  the  patriot  cause,  but  in  March,  1778,  escaped  to  the 
British. — ED. 


74  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

RECRUITS  FOR   THE   EXPEDITION 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Col.  William  Fleming.      IU92 — 
A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT   7th.  Septr.  1777 

SIR — on  the  12th  Ultimo  I  did  myself  the  Honour 
of  writing  to  you  and  requesting  you  to  furnish  200 
men  properly  Officered  and  equiped  for  an  Expedi 
tion  into  the  Indian  Country,  for  Six  months  from 
the  Ist.  Inst.  if  so  long  wanted,  and  to  order  them  to 
march  to  Fort  Randolph  on  the  Great  Kanhawa  as 
soon  as  possible,  1  can  Assure  you  that  what  has 
Since  happened  encreases  rather  than  lessens  the 
necessity  for  Accellerating  their  March.  I  beg  you 
may  therefore  Use  every  possible  means  to  Accom 
plish  my  desire,  and  Inform  me  by  express  when  your 
men  March  &  the  time  you  expect  them  to  Arive  at 
Fort  Randolph,  the  Inclosed  you  will  please  to  for 
ward  to  the  Officer  Commanding  at  the  Kanhawa  by 
the  Troops  that  march  from  your  County  Your 

Obie1.  Hble  Servf. 

EDW  :  HAND40 
The  County  IA  of  Bottetourt 


[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  William  Fleming.    T5ZZii — L.  S.] 

Wms. BURGH    Sepr  7th.  1777. 

SIR — Brigadier  General  Hand  who  is  appointed  by 
Congress    to    command    the    western    Garrisons    (the 


40  After  dispatching  this  letter  of  Sept.  7  to  Colonel  Flem 
ing,  Hand  received  one  from  him  dated  Aug.  25,  recounting 
the  difficulties  under  which  he  labored  in  equipping  and  pro 
visioning  200  men  from  his  county.  Hand  therefore  wrote 
Sept.  u  (Draper  MSS.,  2U2),  saying  that  he  would  send 
flour  by  the  first  rise  of  the  river,  that  cattle  in  abundance 
were  already  at  Fort  Randolph,  and  that  the  Botetourt  mili- 


DIFFICULTIES  75 

Forts  being  under  their  Direction  by  Vote  of  our 
assembly)  informed  me  that  he  should  want  the 
Assistance  of  Militia  to  chastize  the  offending  Indians 
&  desired  permission  from  me  to  call  out  certain  por 
tions  of  them  as  the  Safety  of  the  Frontiers  might 
require.  In  consequence,  I  did  authorize  him  to  call 
upon  certain  Countys  &  Botetourt  among  others,  to 
furnish  the  necessary  Number  of  men,  &  sent  to  each 
of  the  County  Lieutenants  Letters  informing  them 
respectively  that  they  should  comply  with  the  Gen 
erals  Requisition.  These  Letters  I  sent  to  him  &  ex 
pected  he  would  forward  them  as  he  might  have 
Occasion;  for  without  such  orders  from  me  he  well 
knew  he  had  not  Authority  to  call  out  the  Militia.  I 
find  your  Letter  has  miscarried.  I  wish  you  to  com 
ply  with  his  Demand  if  possible.  Indeed  it  is  a  deli 
cate  point  as  you  observe,  to  march  an  Army  agr.  the 
western  Tribes;  but  really  their  offences  are  so  fla 
gitious,  that  the  Measure  of  their  Iniquity  seems  to  be 
full.  Defensive  operations  cannot  be  productive  of 
Safety  to  the  Inhabitants,  who  have  suffered  abom 
inable  crueltys  from  the  Savages.  The  Mingos  are 
those  whom  the  General  wishes  principally  to  scourge 
for  the  present.  I  am  sorry  for  the  Difficultys  attend 
ing  the  Measure  with  yr.  Militia,  but  you  will  sur 
mount  them  as  well  as  you  can.  The  continental  com 
missary  being  not  on  the  Spot,  I  fear  Obstructions  on 
that  account.  I  send  an  order  for  some  Lead.  Con 
gress  wants  a  large  Quantity  &  I  must  be  frugal  of  it. 


tia  already  sent  to  that  garrison  could  be  considered  a  part 
of  the  200  requisitioned  men. — ED. 


76          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

I  am  glad  to  hear  some  Help  is  arrived  at  Kentucki.41 
Gen1.  Hands  operations  will  be  effectual  toward  pro 
tecting  that  Quarter. 

I  beg  Leave  to  congratulate  you  on  the  Success  of 
our  arms  on  the  frontier  of  New  York.  Burgoine's 
Defeat  if  it  is  totally  effected  will  deter  the  Indians. 
American  affairs  wear  a  promising  aspect  now.  The 
Enemy  who  are  landed  at  the  Head  of  the  Bay,  are 
opposed  by  a  well  appointed  Army  ab*.  12,000  strong 
&  that  will  soon  be  reinforced  by  as  many  Militia  who 
are  very  eager  to  turn  out.  I  wish  you  Health  &  Hap 
piness  &  prosperity  to  yr.  part  of  the  country  &  am 
very  respectfully  Sir  Yr.  mo  ob*.  &  very  hble  serv*. 

P.  HENRY 

P.  S.  The  Evil  of  engrossing  as  practised  with 
you,  is  a  great  one.  It  requires  legislative  authority 
to  correct  it.  P.  H. 


DISTRESS  AT  WHEELING 

[Maj.  David  McClure  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.    IUQ3 — A.  L.  S.] 

CATFISH  CAMP  8th.  September  1777 
SIR — The  Inhabitants  of  whelan  are  under  Such 
Distress  that  the[y]  are  in  hopes  your  Excellency  will 
take  them  under  your  Consideration  and  Send  them  a 
party  of  Horses  and  men  to  Bring  them  into  the 
Inhabitants  as  the  have  in  Generall  Lost  all  their 
Horses  and  Cannott  Come  in  off  themselves.'  Col°. 
Shepherd  sent  orders  to  Alexr.  Douglass  to  bring 
down  his  Brigade  of  Horses  to  Assist  the  Inhabitants 
to  Come  in  but  sd.  Douglass  having  recd.  orders  from 


41  This    refers   to   Col.   John    Bowman's    militia   companies. 
See  ante,  p.  31,  note  63. — ED. 


A  CALL  FOR  HELP  77 

Col°.  Steel  to  Cross  the  mountain  for  Provision  Could 
not  obey  Col°.  Shepherds  Orders,  and  Provisions  is 
so  Scarce  at  whelan  that  unless  the  Inhabitants  are 
brought  away  the  Provisions  Cannott  Last  but  a  few 
days  as  the  are  obliged  to  Draw  from  the  Publick 
Stores  &  Last  friday  there  was  but  Seven  Casks  of 
Flower  in  the  Store  &  Col°.  Shepherd  was  affraid  that 
unless  your  Excellency  would  order  both  men  &  Pro 
visions  down  Immediatly  he  would  be  Obliged  to 
evacuate  the  Garrison.  I  hope  your  Excellency  will 
take  those  things  under  your  Consideration  &  send 
them  Immediate  Assistance  which  will  oblige  your 
most  humble  Serv1 

DAVID  MCCLURE42 

P.  S  I  wrote  the  above  by  order  of  Col°.  David 
Shepherd  he  gave  me  the  orders  when  I  Left  the 
Garrison  Last  friday  evening. 

I  believe  Cap*.  James  Wright43  Could  Immediatly 
raise  a  party  of  men  to  Escort  the  Inhabitants  if  he 
Could  get  your  Excellencys  orders  for  it. 

His  Excellency  Generall  Ed.  Hand 


12  For  this  officer  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  234,  note  77. — ED. 
'  43  Probably  this  was  James  Wright,  who  with  his  brother 
Joshua  removed  about  1765  from  the  Cumberland  Valley  and 
settled  on  Peter's  Creek,  in  the  present  Washington  County. 
James  afterwards  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  was  there  killed 
by  Indians. — ED. 


78  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

RAIDING   IN   GREENBRIER 

[Capt.  John  Van  Bibber  to  Col.  William  Fleming.     3ZZio — 

A.  L.  S.] 
CAPTAIN  JOHN  VAN  BiBBERS44  FORT   GREEN  BRIER 

September  uth   1777 
HoNd  SIR  : — Our  present  unhappy  sittuation  as  well 

as  the  duty  Incumbant  upon  me  by  the  post  the  Coun 
try  has  thought  proper  to  honour  me  with,  Lays  me 
under  the  greatest  obligation  of  sollicking  you  for  aid 
of  men  which  I  as  well  as  the  rest  of  my  Neighbours 
are  not  in  the  least  dubious  of ;  When  you  hear  the 
following  Narrative  of  the  Barbarity  that  was  this 
day  Commited  by  our  most  Inhumane  &  savage  Ene- 
mys  the  Indians.  The  sequel  runs  as  follows  About 
PJreak  of  day  this  Morning  they  attacked  the  house  of 
James  Graham45  which  is  sittuated  within  three  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  fort  where  they  killed  three  and 
took  one  prisoner,  and  in  about  two  hours  afterwards 
a  small  Detachment  of  men  which  was  going  to  the 
Assistance  of  some  Adjacent  Neighbours  was  again 
Attacked  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  Fort,  when 
our  Men  gave  them  Battle  &  sustaind  no  damage  only 
one  man  slightly  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  what  loss 
the  Enemy  sustaind  is  to  us  unknown,  but  we  are  in 
great  hopes  our  men  did  some  Execution  as  some 


44  For  this  fort  and  its  builder  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  177, 
note  7  ;    also  p.  192. — ED. 

45  Col.  James  Graham  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1741,  and  died 
at  his  Greenbrier  home  Jan.  18,  1813.     His  daughter  Elizabeth, 
who  was  captured,  was  adopted  by  a  member  of  the  Cornstalk 
family    of    Shawnee.      Her    father    ransomed    her   with   great 
difficulty  in   1785,  and  she  married  Joel  Stodgill.     Settling  in 
Monroe  County,  she  died  there  in   1858.     For  a  full  account 
of  the  capture,  see  West  Virginia  Magazine,  Jan.,  1905. — ED. 


A  GREENBRIER  RAID  79 

of  them  had  a  tolerable  good  View  of  their  Bodies, 
We  got  some  few  Implements  belonging  to  them — 
Namely  A  Couple  of  Spears  and  Match  Coats,  Two 
Bows  and  a  Case  of  Arrows  &  a  scalping  Knife.  I 
hope  you  will  be  as  assiduous  as  possible  in  sending  us 
assistance  of  men.  At  the  same  time  should  be  glad 
if  you  think  proper  to  be  Invested  with  such  an  Au 
thority  that  I  might  have  a  small  Body  of  men  under 
my  Command  so  that  they  may  be  under  the  Neces 
sity  of  being  Obedient  to  all  Lawful  Commands,  and 
likewise  that  I  may  have  the  Liberty  of  sending  out  a 
Couple  of  Spies.  Your  Compliance  with  this  request 
will  greatly  oblige  all  my  Desolate  Neighbours  as  well 
as  Yr  hble  SeiV 

JOHN  VAN  BIBBER 

Walter  Kelwell  [Cal dwell],  John  Grimes  [Gra 
ham],  James  Grimes  Negro  fellow,  kild;  Elizabth 
Grimes,  Prisoner;  Isaac  Taylor,  Wounded. 


[James  Henderson  to  Col.  William  Fleming.     3ZZn — A.  L.  S.] 

FORT   HENREY46 

HoNOURd  Sr. — this  Morning  I  Recd  the  folowing 
Acct.  from  Andw.  Kinkead47  which  is  as  folows — that 
he  and  Walter  Caldwell  was  at  James  Greham  on 
Green  Brier  River  last  wensday  Night  and  a  Thurs 
day  morning  a  litel  before  Day  the  Indians  broke  open 
the  Dore  upon  them;  and  Shott  Walter  Caldwell  & 


46  This  was   a   local   Greenbrier   fort,   named   for  Governor 
Henry.     Its  location  is  not  certainly  known. — ED. 

47  The  Kinkeads  were  an  Augusta  County  family,  whence 
they  removed  in  1789  to  Woodford  County,  Ky.     Andrew  was 
lieutenant  of  a  ranging  company  under  Capt.  Andrew  Lock- 
ridge. — ED. 


80          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

kild  one  of  Jas.  Grehams  Children  and  Negro  Fellos; 
and  one  of  his  Children  is  taken  prisenor ;  we  are  in 
great  want  of  lead  and  I  have  sent  up  to  the  mines 
but  Could  not  get  Any.  I  have  this  Moment  Recd. 
Ace4,  of  Steel  Loftus  being  murdred  at  the  mouth  of 
Indian  Creek  this  Morning  and  what  other  Dammage 
is  don  is  not  yet  known  I,  am  Sr  Your  Humb1  & 
most  Obd  Serv1 

JAS  HENDERSON48 

Sept.  12th    1777 

On  publick   Service   To   Colo.   William  Fleming    Botetourt 
County   pr.  Express. 


[Capt.  John  Stuart  (Stewart)  to  Col.  William  Fleming. 
3ZZi2— A.  L.  S.] 

SIR — I  Recd  a  letter  from  Cap4  Arbuckle  last  night 
which  I  have  herewith  sent  you.  I  was  also  allarmed 
at  the  same  time  with  an  ace1  from  James  Graham 
about  Sixteen  miles  down  the  river,  who  was  yester 
day  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians  at  his  house  who 
killed  Walter  Caldwell  as  he  was  shuting  the  door  to 
keep  them  out,  several  other  persons  were  killed  and 
taken  at  the  same  Time.  I  am  told  after  the  people 
got  relief  from  Cap*  Jn°  Vanbibers  who  lives  in  sight 
of  Grahams,  &  had  taken  in  some  of  this  Corps  a 
smart  firing  was  heard  at  Cap1  Vanbibers  what  the 
Issue  has  been  there  I  have  not  yet  larned  also  a 
number  of  guns  was  heard  by  sundry  persons  in  our 


48  James  Henderson  was  a  brother  of  Col.  John,  noted  in 
Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  183,  note  16.  The  elder  brother  was  with 
the  Continental  army,  while  the  younger  did  militia  duty  at 
the  frontier  forts.  By  his  father's  will,  James  received  large 
grants  of  land  in  Greenbrier  County,  where  he  became  a 
prominent  citizen  and  militia  officer. — ED. 


THE  PEOPLE  PORTING  81 

nighbourhood  supposed  to  be  at  muddy  creek  fort 
about  sundown  last  night  I  have  sent  of[f]  some 
hands  to  see  what  they  were  but  is  not  yet  returned 
the  people  are  in  much  confusion  &  flying  to  fort  at 
Camp  Union  asoon  as  they  got  their  women  &  Chil 
dren  someway  secured  shall  endavour  to  take  a  party 
&  pursue  the  enimy.  They  above  ace1  came  so  Im 
perfectly  to  me  by  sundry  hands  that  I  cannot  pre 
sume  giving  the  particulars  but  I  make  no  doubt  you'l 
receive  them  from  Cap1  Vanbiber  before  this  reaches 
you.  I  have  taken  the  first  opportunity  of  writing  you 
as  I  was  last  night  some  distance  from  home,  the 
guard  for  escorting  the  cattle  to  the  point  was  gather 
ing  yesterday  for  this  purpose,  but  this  allarm  has 
scaterd  them  again  &  I  am  convinced  untill  we  are 
relieved  by  men  from  the  Interior  parts  of  the  settle 
ment  no  escort  can  again  be  raised  here  for  we  appear 
to  be  exceeding  scarce  of  men  &  I  have  sent  by  the 
bearer  to  Cap1  Hendry  Smith  to  send  a  Serg.['s]  com 
mand  at  least  to  assist  the  people  in  muddy  creek  who 
is  very  few  in  numbers,  &  I  am  afraid  will  be  much 
distressed  (this  I  hope  you'l  approve  off)  there  is  a 
report  amongst  us  that  Troops  are  to  be  here  from 
augusta  in  a  few  weeks  on  their  march  against  the 
Ohio  Indians  but  of  this  I  have  [not]  been  rightly  In 
formed  how  such  an  expedition  has  been  proposed. 
I  also  find  it  very  difficult  to  get  good  hands  to  go 
ascouting  as  the[y]  complain  of  the  wagges  not  being 
equal  to  half  the  Value  they  were  formerly  &  those 
we  had  out  has  been  som  time  returned  &  refused  go 
ing  back  again  I  hope  you'l  do  what  you  think  will 
be  Best  Soon  as  our  present  circumstances  is  very 


82  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  OX  UPPER  OHIO 

alarming      Whilst   I   remain   with   due   respect   Your 
Obd.  Humbe  Serv' 

JOHN    STEWART49 

Septr.  12th   1777 

To  the  Col°  William  Fleming   Commd.  of  Botetotirt. 
Pr  Express. 

KITTANNKVG   EVACUATED 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Capt.  Samuel  Moorhead,  dated  Hanna's 
Town,  Sept.  14,  1777.     Draper's  calendar  in  3NN67,  68.] 

Having  found  it  impracticable  to  procure  a  rein 
forcement  for  your  post,  &  being  convinced  that  in 
your  present  situation  you  are  not  able  to  defend 
yourself,  much  less  to  render  the  Continent  any  ser 
vice,  orders  withdrawal  from  Kittanning  bringing 
every  thing  away  portable,  leaving  the  houses  &  bar 
racks  standing;  &  to  take  post  at  John  McKibbin's 
house  on  White  Pine  Run,  about  six  miles  from  the 
Allegheny  river  &  four  from  the  Kiskeminetas. 
There  you  will  be  joined  by  50  or  60  who  will  assist 
you  in  erecting  a  small  stockade  fort  for  your  &  their 
own  protection.  Your  duty  will  be  to  afford  the 
neighboring  settlements  every  possible  assistance  in 
securing  themselves  &  their  properties  from  the  rav 
ages  of  the  enemy,  &  by  small  scouting  parties  to  dis 
cover  any,  &  to  give  notice  of  the  enemies  parties.50 


49  For  a  sketch  of  this  officer  see  Dunmore's  War,  p.   104. 
note  51. — ED. 

50  This   was    Fort    Hand,    for   which    see   ante,   p.    41,    note 
83.— ED. 


MILITARY  WEAKNESS  83 

SITUATION   AT  FORT  HENRY 

[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.    iUQ4— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  HENRY  Setembr.  15th.  1777 

HoNOURd.  Sr — This  if  it  Comes  to  hand  will  Inform 
you  of  the  State  of  our  Garrison,  at  this  Juncture  one 
Lieu1.  &  twenty  Rank  &  file  fit  for  duty,  Sick  & 
wounded  one  Captain  Rank  &  file  four,  the  Reasons 
for  this  Seeming  Evacuating  of  the  post  is  to  be 
attributed  to  Sundry  Reasons  some  of  which  I  shall 
here  undertake  to  Enumerate  &  first  Notwithstanding 
my  Repeated  orders  to  Captain  Ogle  to  Martch  to 
this  place,  agreable  to  your  orders  to  me  I  am  now 
Informed  that  your  Honour  has  Incouraged  him  to 
support  the  Beetch  Bottom  Station  &  that  a  further 
Reinforcement  will  be  sent  to  that  place  as  soon  as 
possible  2d.  I  have  understood  that  you  have  In 
couraged  the  Settlement  about  Catfishes  Camp  to  fort 
strongly  there,  and  your  honour  would  aford  them  a 
Magazain  for  that  purpose,  thirdly  as  the  Term  of 
Supplying  the  posts  By  draughts  from  the  different 
Militia  Company's  Ended  the  first  of  September,  I 
have  not  Been  able  Since  that  time  to  keep  up  the  Sta 
tions  with  a  sufficient  Guard  of  men  partly  for  that  I 
Expected  this  County's  Quota  of  volantieres  might 
Been  made  up  to  Go  on  the  Expedition  without  being 
necessitated  to  draught  for  that  purpose,  which  is 
still  my  opinion  should  an  army  martch  into  the  Indian 
Country  But  notwithstanding  our  County  men  have 
been  so  Stiddy  on  service  during  the  whole  Summer 
that  they  in  General  protest  against  serving  longer  on 
the  Station  &  what  men  I  have  now  in  garrison  are 
only  held  upon  my  promise  of  being  dismissed  as  soon 


84  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

as  Relief  Comes  Col°.  Zackwell  Morgan  wrote  me 
that  he  had  order'd  out  Capt11 :  Brenton51  with  fifty 
men  for  our  Relief,  But  he  having  not  yet  arivd.  I 
have  therefore  for  that  Reason  together  with  those 
above  Recited  thout  it  advisable  to  Retain  Lieut  James 
Spark  &  party  untill  such  time  as  Mr :  Brenton's  Re 
lieve  or  some  other  shall  arive  I  am  of  the  opinion  if 
your  honour  Could  Consistantly  spare  for  the  use  of 
this  Garrison  a  Regular  Lieu1 :  or  Capt" :  &  twenty  five 
Regular  Soldiers  to  Join  &  intermingle  with  the  Mili 
tia  Business  might  much  more  advantageously  be 
Transacted  for  the  Interes  of  the  Country  in  particu 
lar  with  Respect  to  the  Laying  in  of  provition  in 
store  for  should  any  pressing  orders  be  given  to  the 
Militia  at  this  time  you  may  be  assured  that  the  Gar 
rison  would  be  abandoned  in  three  hours  for  the  Ex 
periment  has  been  try'd  since  the  late  action  the  Con 
sequence  of  which  was  that  the  men  woud  fling  their 
Budget  &  Gun  over  the  Stockade  &  Slip  out  of  the 
Gate  unarm'd  &  Run  off  I  have  sent  you  Inclosd 
the  Bill  of  Costs  for  Repairing  this  fort  &  hope  that 
your  honour  will  Send  the  money  p1'  the  Barer  Mr. 
Zachariah  Blackford52  whose  Rect :  shall  avail  Death 
or  Captivation  only  Excepted,  the  particulars  of  the 
late  action  on  the  first  of  Septemb1"  last  is  as  follows : 
i  Lieu1 :  Killd  &  fourteen  privates ;  Wounded  one  Cap 
tain  &  four  privates  ;  Escaped,  five  privates  ;  on  the  2d  : 


51  For    Capt.    James    Brenton    of    Monongalia    County,    see 
Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  231,  note  73. — ED. 

52  Capt.    Zephaniah    Blackford    was    commissary    for    Fort 
Henry.     The  Shepherd  Papers  (Draper  MSS.)   contain  num 
bers  of  his  receipts  and  other  papers  during  this  period  of 
the  war.     His  later  history  is  not  known. — ED. 


OUTRAGES  BY  BORDERERS  85 

of  Septembr  was  killd.  within  five  miles  of  this  place 
Two,  one  scalpd.  yet  alive;  &  one  Missing;  By  the 
Best  Judges  here  who  have  seen  the  plan  Laid  by  the 
Indians  &  their  Brestworks  &  blinds  in  the  late  action 
it  is  thought  their  Numbers  must  not  have  Been  less 
than  Between  Two  and  three  hundred  the  Destruc 
tion  amongst  Cattle  Sheep  horses  hogs  is  not  yet  asser- 
tainable,  the  other  day  a  number  of  the  distressed 
families  mov'd  off  yet  a  number  Remain,  for  want  of 
horses  This  from  Sr :  your  very  humb1.  Serv* :  to 

Command  &c 

DAVID  SHEPHERD 

To  His  Honour  General  Edward  Hand      Pr  Express 


INDIANS  MURDERED  BY  FRONTIERSMEN 

[Gov.  John  Page  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.    3NN  163,  164 — 

Transcript.] 
\yms.BURGH,  VA.  IN  COUNCIL,  Sept.  17th  1777 

SIR — Yr.  letter  of  25th  Aug1.  is  just  come  to  hand, 
in  wh.  you  apologize  for  yr.  large  draughts  of  militia 
you  have  found  it  necessary  to  make.  I  can  only  ob 
serve,  Sir,  that  the  Board  are  perfectly  satisfied  with 
the  steps  you  have  taken,  but  are  afraid  that  the  late 
requisition  from  Congress  for  1/3  of  the  militia  of 
several  of  the  Counties  you  had  called  on,  may  inter 
fere  with  your  plan,  &  the  men  you  may  receive  may 
fall  considerably  short  of  your  expectations.  *  *  * 

I  cannot  conclude  without  expressing  our  earnest 
desire  that  you  will  endeavor  to  discover  &  bring  to 
justice  the  perpetrators  of  the  horrid  murders  com 
mitted  on  the  Indians  at  their  late  Treaty  at  Fort  Pitt, 
which  must  otherwise  expose  us  to  the  shameful  re 
proach  of  being  as  treacherous  &  perfidious  as  the 


86          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

worst  of  savages.53  We  are  the  more  shocked  at  this 
affair  which  would  be  disgraceful  to  the  most  bar 
barous  nation,  as  it  is  a  repetition  of  the  same  cruel  & 
faithless  behavior  which  the  Cherokees  experienced 
from  us  on  a  late  similar  occasion.  I  have  the  honor 

to  be  &c 

JOHN  PAGE 


MESSAGES  TO   THE   DELAWARES 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  the  Delawares.     11)96 — L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT   Septr.  17th.  1777 

BROTHERS  THE  DELAWARES — I  lately  told  you  it 
would  be  dangerous  for  any  Indians  to  come  near  to 
this  Place,  owing  to  the  foolish  Conduct  of  the  Min- 
go's  &  Wiandots,  &  therefore  for  fear  of  any  Mistake 
I  desired  you  not  to  send  any  Messengers  this  Way  or 
to  allow  your  young  Men  to  scatter  too  much  I  sent 
this  word  by  our  Brother  Meymaconon  &  young  Kil- 
buck.  I  now  confirm  them. 

Brothers,  As  I  have  Reason  to  rely  on  the  good 
faith  &  friendship  of  our  Brothers  the  Delawares,  I 


r>3  This  treaty  did  not  take  place,  for  there  were  in  atten 
dance  only  a  few  Delawares,  who  left  hostages  for  their  good 
conduct.  On  the  attitude  of  the  frontiersmen  towards  the 
friendly  Indians,  see  Gibson's  letter  of  Aug.  i,  ante.  Morgan 
wrote  March  15,  1777:  "Parties  have  even  been  assembled  to 
massacre  our  known  friends  at  their  hunting  camps  as  well 
as  messengers  on  business  to  me ;  and  I  have  esteemed  it 
necessary  to  let  those  messengers  sleep  in  my  own  chamber 
for  security" — Craig,  History  of  Pittsburgh  (Pittsburgh, 
1851),  p.  141.  Heckewelder  relates  that  a  party  of  Seneca 
coming  to  this  treaty  were  fired  upon  by  the  white  inhabi 
tants.  This  is  the  incident  to  which  Page  refers;  see  John 
Heckewelder,  Narrative  of  the  Mission  of  the  United  Breth 
ren  Among  the  Delaware  and  Mohegan  Indians  (Phila.,  1820), 
p.  159.— ED. 


LETTERS  TO  THE  DELAWARES  87 

send  the  Bearer  Mr.  James  Elliot54  to  inform  you  of 
the  News  of  our  grand  armies,  the  cattle  who  you 
were  told  were  pen'd  up,  have  broke  down  the  fences 
&  trampled  their  Keepers  to  Death. 

Brothers,  The  News  Papers  will  give  you  a  full 
Account  of  the  great  Battles  our  armies  have  gained. 
The  Indians  who  were  so  foolish  as  to  join  our  Ene 
mies  have  found  their  Mistake  &  those  who  have  not 
run  away  are  quite  sick  of  their  Conduct.  The 
Oneidas  &  Tuscororas  have  joined  our  army  &  are 
now  in  Pursuit  of  the  Enemy. 

Brothers,  I  expect  very  soon  to  send  you  an  agree 
able  Account  of  another  Battle  as  Genl.  Howe  who 
had  run  away  from  the  Jerseys  on  board  of  his  ves- 
sells  has  now  landed  with  his  army  in  Maryland 
whither  Genl.  \Yashington  has  gone  with  our  army  to 
drive  the  red  Coats  on  board  their  Ships  again.  He 
will  do  little  damage  except  stealing  our  sheep  & 
Poultry 

Brothers,  I  send  Mr.  Elliott  not  only  to  tell  you 
this  good  News  but  to  assure  you  that  I  am  deter 
mined  to  preserve  your  friendship  by  a  sincere  &  up 
right  Conduct  toward  you  agreeable  to  the  repeated 
Orders  of  Congress.  And  notwithstanding  foolish 
People  occasioned  a  Cloud  to  overspread  our  Council 
fire  &  have  filled  the  Road  between  you  &  me  with 
Briars  &  Thorns  I  will  soon  clear  the  path  &  make  it 
as  broad  &  plain  as  ever,  for  this  has  been  and  is  now 
the  wish  of  all  our  wise  Men,  as  a  Testimony  of  my 
sincerity  I  sign  &  send  you  this. 


54  James  Elliott  was  an  Indian  trader  whose  home  was  in 
the  settlement  known  as  Path  Valley,  in  Franklin  County, 
Pa.— ED. 


88  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Brothers,  What  I  have  told  you  is  true  but  do  not 
desire  you  to  depend  on  Words  alone.  If  you  send 
to  the  Northward  your  Messengers  may  see  with  their 
own  Eyes. 

Brothers,  If  your  Messengers  get  up  to  go  for 
News  I  desire  they  may  go  the  whole  way  &  not  take 
the  reports  of  People  they  may  meet  on  the  Road. 

Brothers,  Your  Uncles  the  Wiandots  the  foolish 
People  on  Scioto  &  every  other  Indian  Tribe  that  has 
listened  to  the  Advice  of  Governor  Hamilton  &  Butler 
will  see  when  it  is  too  late  that  those  Men  do  not 
regard  the  Interest  of  the  Indians  &  will  find  them 
ready  to  tread  them  under  their  feet  when  they  can't 
be  of  no  further  Use  to  them. 

Brothers,  You  will  be  fully  satisfied  of  my  friend 
ship  when  you  see  my  Messenger  Mr.  James  Elliott. 
I  desire  you  to  use  him  well  &  give  him  what  he  wants 
for  which  I  will  pay  you  as  soon  as  I  can  see  you.  I 
desire  you  will  also  send  by  him  all  the  News  you 
have  in  Writing  &  convey  him  safe  from  all  your 
Towns  as  far  as  may  be  necessary. 

Brothers,  Be  strong  &  adhere  to  your  Professions 
&  depend  on  the  friendship  of  your  Brother 

EDWd.  HAND 


[Gov.  John  Page  to  the  Delawares.      iU97.] 

Wms.BURGH   Septr.  18.   1777 

BROTHERS  THE  DELAWS — I  write  now  to  you,  by  our 
Brother  Col.  Geo :  Morgan  to  assure  you  that  the 
State  of  Virginia  is  determined  to  hold  fast  the  chain 
of  friendship  with  and  support  you  as  she  would  her 
own  children  against  all  your  Enemies  as  long  as  the 


LETTERS  TO  THE  DELAWARES  89 

Sun  or  Moon  shall  shine  &  rivers  flow.  The  same 
assurance  the  Col.  will  give  from  all  our  13  United 
States  for  now  Bre.  these  states  of  america  have  broken 
off  the  galling  Yoke  of  the  English  &  act  for  them 
selves  they  have  been  cruelly  treated  by  the  English 
who  have  grown  proud  &  insolent  by  the  great  riches 
they  had  acquired  in  their  Trade  with  our  States  & 
by  the  Assistance  we  lent  them  in  their  Wars  with  the 
french  &  other  Nations  as  you  can  well  remember, 
began  to  treat  us  not  like  their  Children,  as  we  fool 
ishly  called  ourselves  but  like  their  slaves  &  because 
we  complained  of  this  Brothers  &  entreated  their  cruel 
King  to  let  us  enjoy  the  same  Liberty  we  enjoyed 
under  the  old  King  his  Grandfather  he  insulted  us  & 
sent  his  fleets  &  armies  to  frighten  us  into  a  Tame  sub 
mission  to  his  will,  we  bore  long  with  many  cruelties 
still  hoping  that  we  should  not  be  forced  to  break  off 
from  that  Nation  &  shift  for  ourselves,  but  at  last 
when  they  had  killed  many  of  our  People  burned  our 
Houses  &  had  endeavoured  to  make  all  the  Indian 
Nations  on  our  frontier  butcher  our  Women  &  Chil 
dren,  &  the  very  Negroes  born  in  our  own  Houses 
cut  our  Throats,  the  13  States  laid  hold  on  one  strong 
bright  Chain  of  friendship,  &  resolved  to  be  as  one 
People  for  ever  and  to  take  up  the  Hatchet  &  knock 
off  the  hard  Chains  the  English  had  bound  them  with 
&  with  that  Hatchet  to  clear  their  way  to  Liberty  & 
Peace,  whoever  strikes  one  of  these  States  strikes 
all  &  all  will  return  the  Blow  the  English  know  this 
&  have  felt  the  weight  of  it  &  have  therefore  told  you 
lies  &  endeavoured  to  prevail  on  you  to  help  them  to 
fight  us,  but  consider  well  that  God  almighty  has 


90          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

seen  their  wickedness  &  heard  their  Lies  &  has  there 
fore  stretched  out  his  hand  to  help  us  &  has  con 
founded  almost  all  their  cruel  Schemes,  we  trust  in 
God  he  is  now  our  King  &  not  a  weak  &  foolish  Man 
from  him  who  is  King  of  Kings  &  Govr.  of  all  the 
World  we  expect  support  &  we  call  on  you  yourselves 
to  say  whether  we  have  not  reed,  it  from  him  for  how 
else  did  it  happen  Brs.  that  the  English  who  were  so 
great  a  Nation  with  all  the  fleets  &  armies  they  Could 
raise  have  not  been  able  in  two  Years  to  conquer  one 
of  our  13  States  how  otherwise  can  it  be  accounted 
for  that  we  who  had  neither  arms  or  Soldiers  have 
now  an  abundance  of  both  &  that  in  several  Battles 
with  them  we  have  Killed  many  of  their  Soldiers 
without  loosing  a  Man  we  scorn  to  lie  as  they  do 
we  acknowledge  that  they  have  taken  some  of  our 
Towns  &  that  they  still  have  a  large  army  in  one  of 
our  States,  but  we  deny  that  they  can  ever  conquer  us 
or  inclose  us  in  a  Pen  like  Bullocks  as  they  falsely 
told  you,  our  Way  is  open  even  on  the  Sea.  where 
they  are  Most  powerful  for  we  trade  with  france  & 
Spain  Nations  great  &  powerful  now  as  England  & 
as  to  being  penned  in  by  Indians  the  Cherokees  know 
how  unable  they  were  to  keep  us  in  &  that  the  English 
could  not  have  hindered  Us  from  destroying  their 
whole  Nation,  if  we  had  Chosen  it  &  had  not  merci 
fully  spared  them,  they  have  seen  their  folly  we 
have  forgiven  them,  &  are  now  friends,55  Brothers 
we  are  not  like  the  English  cruel  &  unrelenting  we 
would  forgive  even  them  if  they  would  leave  off  kill- 


55  For  a  good   account  of   the   Cherokee  War  of   1776  see 
Roosevelt,  Winning  of  the  West,  i,  chap.  xi. — ED. 


LETTERS  TO  THE  DELAWARES  91 

ing  our  People  we  have  lately  got  the  better  of  them 
in  several  Engagements  &  our  army  is  now  much 
larger  than  theirs  so  that  we  hope  that  they  will  soon 
carry  them  away  to  their  own  Country  &  leave  us  to 
ourselves,  if  they  do  we  will  forgive  them,  &  not 
follow  to  fight  them  but  trade  peaceably  with  them 
when  they  send  their  People  here  to  buy  our  Tobacco 
&  Wheat  &  your  skins  &  furs  &  many  other  Things 
which  they  will  want  &  which  we  can  let  them  have 
for  their  Goods.  I  hope  I  have  now  opened  your 
Eyes  Brothers  that  you  may  see  your  Way  clearly  & 
your  Ears  that  you  may  hear  the  Truth  let  them  not 
be  stopped  again.  Hold  fast  the  Chain  of  friendship 
with  our  States  &  remember  that  we  look  upon  you  as 
Brs.  born  under  the  same  Sky  &  living  on  the  same 
Land  &  having  the  same  Common  Interests.  We  love 
you  &  sincerely  Wish  Peace  &  Happiness  to  all  our 
Indian  Brs.  We  do  not  wish  that  they  should  ever 
fight  for  us  none  but  the  cruel  English  &  their  friends 
wish  to  see  you  engaged  in  a  War.  they  indeed  strong 
as  they  pretend  to  be,  would  prevail  on  you  to  help 
them  to  fight  &  I  suspect  have  killed  some  of  your  peo 
ple  &  then  told  you  ours  had  killed  them  trust  them 
not  Brothers  believe  them  no  more  but  remember 
what  I  have  told  you  &  listen  to  our  Brother  Col. 
Morgan.  I  am  Yr.  friend  &  Brother 

JOHN  PAGE 
L*.  Govr. 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  the  Delawares.     IUg7 — A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT   18  Septr.  1777 

BROTHERS    THE    DELAWARES — You    know    that    1 
never  deceived  you.      It  is  my  advice  that  you  take 


92          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Care  of  your  young  Men,  &  I  hope  the  Clouds  which 
now  interrupts  our  sight  of  each  other  will  soon  van 
ish.  I  intend  to  go  immediately  to  Philada.  to  give 
an  account  of  my  Conduct  to  the  great  Council  there. 
And  I  will  not  fail  to  assure  them  how  strong  you  are 
in  good  Works.  You  may  depend  on  their  making 
the  Sky  clear  again  if  you  will  assist  them  as  you  have 
done.  Immediately  after  my  Arrival  there  you  shall 
hear  from  me  if  it  is  in  my  Power.  You  may  expect  a 
Messenger  from  me  about  the  Ist.  day  of  next  Novr. 
when  you  shall  know  the  Minds  of  Congress.  Till 
then  I  desire  you  will  wait  with  Patience  &  continue 
to  be  strong  in  good  Works  that  we  may  tie  down  all 
those  who  study  to  do  Mischief. 

I  committ  Mr.  Zeisberger  &c.  to  your  particular 
Care.  He  is  sent  to  you  from  Heaven  for  your  own 
Good,  therefore  be  strong  &  do  not  let  him  suffer  on 
any  account. 

Brothers,  I  desire  you  will  give  good  Counsel  to 
your  Grand  children  the  Shawanese  &  repeat  this 
Message  to  them 

I  desire  your  Message  to  me  may  [be]  directed  for 
me  at  Philada.  &  that  you  will  send  it  open  under 
Cover  to  Genl.  Hand  who  will  read  it  &  then  forward 
it  to  me  at  the  great  Council  by  Express. 

I  therefore  expect  you  will  speak  plain  to  me  &  tell 
me  your  whole  Minds  that  Congress  may  see  your 
Hearts. 

T  desire  you  will  get  Mr.  Zeisberger  to  write  for  you. 

TATMRNEND.56 

56  This  was  Colonel  Morgan's  Indian  name,  given  to  him 
by  the  Delawares.  It  was  probably  the  same  as  the  modern 
Tammany.- — ED. 


THE  DELAWARES'  REPLY  93 

RAID   ON  MONONGAHELA 

[Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand,  Sept.  18. 
lUgS— A.  L.] 

May  it  please  your  Excellency — On  the  13th.  Instant 
at  Coones  Fort  on  the  west  fork  the  Indians  killed  and 
sculped  a  woman  only  150  yards  from  the  Fort,  and 
Appeared  to  be  Very  impudent.57  Whoever  the  In 
habitants  seem  to  be  Very  Willing  to  Stand  (if  your 
Excellency  Pleases  to  let  them  have  Amunition,  as 
what  I  Recd.  I  have  Distributed  to  the  Different  Forts 
and  have  not  any  left  I  must  Request  your  Excellency 
to  give  an  order  on  Colo1.  Brown  for  what  Quantity 
you  shall  think  Edaquit  for  the  Defence  of  the  Inhabi 
tants,  of  this  Part  of  the  Country  I  Expect  to  be 
Down  in  A  few  days,  after  I  get  my  Drove  of  Cattle 
Delivered,  I  shall  drive  in  a  few  days  with  what 
Colo1.  Evans58  can  Collect.  I  am  Sir  Your  most  Obe 
dient  and  Most  Hum1.  Sarv*. 

[Z.  MORGAN] 

P.  S      please  send  by  the  bearer  3  quir  paper 
To  His  Excellency  Edward  Hand    Fort  Pit    Pr  Express 


REPLIES  FROM  THE  DELAWARES 

[David  Zeisberger  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand. 

CUCHACHUNK59    Septr.   22*.    1777- 

May  it  please  your  Excellency: 

SIR, — As  Capt.  WThite  Eye  will  endeavour  to  try  if 
he  can  get  this  Letter  to  the  fort,  I  inclose  here  a  Let 
ter  to  the  Honble.  Congress  because  I  suppose  accord- 


57  For   a   detailed   account   of   this   incident   see    Thwaites, 
JVithers's  Chronicles,  pp.  218,  219. — ED. 

58  For  this  officer  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  234,  note  78. — ED. 

59  For  this  town  see  Ibid,  p.  46,  note  73. — ED. 


94  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

ing  to  the  account  we  had  that  Mr.  Morgan  by  this 
Time  had  left  the  Fort.  Capt.  White  Eye  &  the 
Councellors  Are  very  sorry  that  the  Communication 
and  Correspondence  with  you  is  stopped  &  they  shall 
hear  Nothing  now  from  you  not  knowing  in  what 
Condition  they  are  and  what  they  have  to  expect,  be 
cause  we  heard  that  the  White  People  would  come  & 
attack  Cuchachunk  &  the  delaware  Towns  which  has 
set  all  the  Indians  in  Consternation  &  fear,  expecting 
every  day  that  they  will  be  upon  them.  A  late  Report 
we  had  that  the  white  People  were  already  on  their 
March  hither  caused  our  Indians  at  Gnadenhutten60 
to  fly  &  left  their  Town  and  we  are  now  altogether 
here  nigh  Cuchachunk.  Therefore,  pray  Sir,  let  us 
know  if  we  the  Christian  Indians,  or  the  Delawares 
are  in  any  Danger,  &  if  we  have  any  Thing  to  fear  of 
the  white  People.  I  cannot  leave  my  People  the 
Christian  Indians  for  I  see  it  before  hand  that  they  all 
will  be  scattered  if  I  leave  them  &  the  Brethren's 
Labour  which  they  so  many  Years  and  with  so  much 
Difficulty  have  continued  with  success  would  be  en 
tirely  lost.  I  venture  my  Life  &  am  resolved  to  hold 
out  with  them  relying  next  [to]  our  Lord  &  blessed 
Saviour  on  your  Protection  &  Assistance.  I  hope  you 
will  remember  us,  &  as  much  as  lies  in  your  Power  to 
assist  us  that  we  may  be  able  to  keep  our  Ground  & 
remain  in  Possession  of  our  Towns.  Capt.  White 
Eyes  and  the  Delaware  Chiefs  are  yet  determined  to 
stand  fast  and  not  to  meddle  with  the  War,  they 
want  to  live  in  friendship  with  the  white  People  if 
they  only  knew  that  the  white  People  has  no  bad 


60  For  this  town  see  Ibid,  p.  45,  note  71. — ED. 


THE  DELAWARES'  REPLY  95 

design  against  them.  As  long  as  they  remain  quiet 
and  peaceable  I  with  my  People  shall  keep  with  or 
nigh  them,  but  should  we  see  that  they  drop  the  friend 
ship,  then  we  should  be  obliged  to  seperate  ourselves 
from  them.  But  when  they  hear  they  have  nothing  to 
fear  of  the  white  People  it  will  cheer  up  their  spirits 

6  be  quiet.      The  Wiondots  &  Mingoes  are  all  gone 
home  again     according  to  their  Knowledge  they  killed 
14  People  at  Weelunk,  had  one  Wiondat  killed  &  6  or 

7  Wounded  one  of  the  last  died  since.    Wiondough- 
walind's61  son  &  another  of  his  Company  are  badly 
wounded  &  it  is  said  will  hardly  live.      Both  Capts. 
At  present  we  know  that  40  of  the  Wiondats  are  gone 
it  is  said  to  Weelunk62     of  any  more  that  are  out  we 
know  not.      From  Sandusky  we  hear  that  at  Detroit 
they  were  gathering  Men  to  meet  the  army  which  they 
expect  to  come  up  there.      Pray  let  me  know  if  pos 
sible  with  this  opportunity  if  Messengers  could  come 
safe  to  the  fort,  &  if  it  was  dangerous  for  Indians 
perhaps  we  could  send  a  white  Man  in  Case  of  Neces 
sity  that  we  might  hear  from  one  another      I  am  Sir 
Yr.  most  Hble.  Serv*. 

D.    ZlESBERGER 
[White  Eyes  to  Congress.      lUioo.] 

CUCHACHUNK     Sepf.    22&.    I1///. 

Capt.  White  Eyes  Message  to  the  Honble.  Congress 
of  the  thirteen  United  States. 

BROTHER,— When  I  was  at  Pittsburgh  last  I  ac 
quainted  Mr.  Morgan  of  all  what  passed  in  the  Indian 


61  This  is  the  chief  noted  Ibid,  p.  46,  note  75. — ED. 

62  Probably  those  who  ambuscaded  Foreman  and  his  men. 
See  post. — ED. 


96          FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Country,  that  the  Wiondats,  Mingoes  and  others  were 
coming  to  strike  our  Brethren  the  Virginians,  &  that 
it  was  no  more  in  my  Power  to  stop  them,  that  they 
would  march  by  Cuchachunk,  as  they  also  did,  and 
we  could  not  hinder  it  because  they  were  too  strong. 

I  informed  Mr.  Morgan  that  Wiondoughwalind  with 
his  Men  had  joined  them.  They  marched  from  hence 
to  the  fort  at  Weelunk,  from  whence  they  returned 
again,  where  they  told  the  White  People  that  they 
came  from  Cuchachunk. 

Brother,  As  I  see  the  dark  Clouds  arising  over  my 
head,  I  still  hold  fast  to  the  chain  of  friendship,  and 
now  more  than  ever,  But  since  the  Battle  at  Wee 
lunk  it  seems  by  the  account  we  had,  as  if  you  would 
drop  the  friendship,  because  you  heard  that  these 
Warriors  had  said,  they  came  from  Cuchachunk,  'tho 
I  told  you  before  hand  that  their  Chief  Design  was  to 
bring  the  White  People  upon  us  to  strike  us. 

Brother,  We  agreed  with  one  another  to  hold  fast 
&  keep  bright  the  Chain  of  friendship  which  our 
ancestors  have  made,  and  as  a  token  that  my  heart  was 
good  and  upright,  1  left  two  of  my  Men  at  the  fort  to 
keep  the  road  open  between  us  &  you,  that  we  might 
hear  from  one  another. 

Brother.  I  choose  Mr.  Morgan  to  transact  Busi 
ness  &  to  assist  us  in  the  goo'd  Work  of  Peace  & 
friendship  &  I  always  found  him  to  be  true  upright  & 
faithful.  I  also  believe  you  know  him  likewise  to  be 
so,  Let  us  therefore  not  drop  our  friendship  for  the 
sake  of  a  bad  Word  of  some  foolish  People.  It  is  a 
Work  of  great  Importance  which  the  Honble.  Con 
gress  of  the  thirteen  United  States  has  undertaken 


BUILDING  FORT  HAND  97 

and  continued  until  now.  I  should  be  very  sorry  that 
our  Communication  with  one  another  should  be 
stopped  entirely. 

Brother.  We  made  out  with  one  another,  that  if 
an  Army  should  march  in  the  Indian  Country  it 
should  take  its  march  above  &  below  our  Towns  that 
our  Women  &  Children  might  remain  quiet  &  not  be 
too  much  frightened,  which  I  hope  you  will  remember 
and  order  it  to  be  done  according  to  our  agreement. 

This  is  all  Brother,  I  have  to  say  at  present,  pray 
let  us  hear  an  answer  from  you  as  soon  as  possible. 
Your  Sincere  friend  &  Brother, 

WrHiTE  EYE. 

FORT  HAND  BUILT 

[Capt.  Samuel  Moorhead  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      lUioi — 

A.  L.  S.] 

JOHN  McKiBBENs's  HOUSE  Sep*.  22d.  1777 
DEAR  GENERAL — Arrived  here  last  night  with  the 
Greatest  Defkulties  I  ever  had  in  my  life,  with  Pack- 
horses  hevy  loaded  bad  pack  And  untoward  loading. 
Have  Obeyd  your  Oarders  as  well  As  I  Possably 
cou'd  though  it  was  not  in  my  power  to  Accomplish 
the  whole  for  the  want  of  horses,  likewise  had  an 
anvile  And  Some  Other  things  that  the  people  Coud 
not  get  Along  And  hid  them  in  the  woods.  Hid  an 
other  load  by  the  way  By  reason  of  a  horse  Giveing 
Out  in  the  Rear,  thursday  Night  recd.  your  oarders, 
friday  we  spent  in  Packing,  Saterday  morning  verry 
early  Orderd  the  g[a]tes  to  be  cut  down  and  burnd 
As  soon  as  them  and  part  of  the  Stockades  was  set 
on  fire  The  indeans  Set  to  hupeing  on  a  hill  About  200 

7 


98  FRONTIER  DEFENSE  OX  UPPER  OHIO 

Yards  from  the  fort  we  Cou'd  just  perceive  them 
through  the  fog.  I  inquird  By  an  interpreter  who 
the[y]  were  or  if  they  wanted  to  fight  us  they  an- 
swerd  they  did.  I  told  them  to  Come  on  they  an- 
swerd  they  woud  shortly,  but  we  herd  no  more  of 
them  that  day,  yestard[ay]  morning  we  march'd 
before  day.  One  of  My  boys  went  back  About  half 
a  mile  for  a  shot  bag  and  Powder  horn,  just  as  he 
got  to  the  gate  they  rais'd  a  shoking  huping  and  yaling 
in  a  Swamp  just  at  the  back  of  the  fourt,  he  came  off 
[being]  descovrd  suposed  by  their  Sound  there  was 
a  great  maney.  Came  unmolested  within  about  2 
miles  of  this  place  where  our  advansd  Party  was  fird 
on  by  a  party  of  indeans,  our  peopls  arms  was  in  bad 
Oarder  by  reason  of  the  wet  wether,  which  obleged 
them  to  retrate,  they  persud  a  little  way  nerly  in 
Sight  of  the  frunt  of  the  party,  two  of  my  best  men 
is  a  mising,  but  from  what  I  Can  learn,  Am  in  hop[e]s 
one  or  both  of  them  has  made  their  escape.  Thirty- 
five  men  has  Assisted  me  in  Coming  here  But  there 
is  verry  few  of  them  that  I  can  prevale  upon  to  Stay, 
Only  the  time  that  this  express  will  be  Coming  back 
from  your  Honnour.  Nor  have  I  any  Account  of 
any  more  coming  I  expect  to  be  treated  in  the  Same 
manner  here  that  I  was  at  the  Kittaning,  by  the  Meli- 
tia.  The  indeans  Apear  to  be  verry  Plenty  in  this 
Settlement  by  their  tracks,  the  nomber  my  people 
Saw  last  evning  was  but  Six  though  there  apeard  to 
be  more  by  their  Signes.  Some  of  our  people  Say 
they  heard  indeans  this  day  but  am  uncertain.  Our 
Beef  Cattle  ran  away  ten  days  ago  was  not  able  to 
send  a  sofitient  party  to  bring  them  back  Untill  Mr. 


BUILDING  FORT  HAND  99 

Jack  came  out,  and  hering  of  A  removil  thought  it  not 
prudent  to  send  for  them  then,  they  have  been  tract 
through  this  Settlement  expects  they  are  near  Fourt 
pit  at  this  time,  they  are  19  in  nomber.  I  would  not 
chuse  this  situation  for  a  fort  by  reason  of  a  large 
thickety  bottom  about  100  yards  distant,  Though 
your  Pleasure  Shall  be  verry  Agreeable  to  your  Hum 
ble  Servant  providing  we  get  Assistance  which  I  can 
have  but  little  dependance  upon  Am  Dear  General, 
with  Respect  Yr  Mst.  Obdt  Huml  Servfc. 

SAM1.   MOORHEAD 

Returns  you  harty  thanks  for  the  newspaper  it  is 
all  the  medesin  of  the  kind  that  has  done  me  any  good 
this  long  time. 

Had  to  destroy  two  loads  of  flour.  Put  some  mede- 
sion  in  part  of  it  that  may  be  of  Some  Service  to  the 
blks  [blacks — Indians].  Have  inclosed  a  Return  of 
the  Stores  brought  to  this  place.  The  Commisary  had 
a  wrong  idea  of  the  quantity  of  flour  the  last  return. 
My  men  have  done  verry  extrorny  duty  for  some  time 
past  part  of  them  has  been  three  nights  together 
upon  guard  and  the  greater  part  of  them  has  not  in 
the  least  Complaind  knowing  the  necessity  for  it. 
they  are  now  in  wors  Situation  then  before  lying  out 
in  the  open  fields  without  blankets  or  Clothing  fit  for 
the  Season  of  the  year,  the  flux  has  been  through  a 
great  many  of  them,  are  all  recovrd  except  two 

S.  M. 
On   public   Service    Generl   Hand    Commanding  the  Westrin 

Departement.     Fort  pitt      Per  express 


100        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

VVOKD  FKOM   THE  MUSKINGUM 

[Capt.  White  Eyes's  Message  to  Col.  Morgan.     6ZZ7.] 
CUCHACHUNK    Septr.  23<i.  1777 

BROTHER, — I  was  exceeding  glad  to  see  your  Mes 
sengers  coming  to  me  &  so  much  more  I  rejoiced  to 
see  them  because  I  was  already  [at]  a  Loss  what  to 
do,  to  get  some  Intelligence  from  you,  and  I  was  just 
ready  to  send  a  Messenger  to  the  fort  when  Mr.  Elliott 
and  his  Company  arrived  to  my  great  Joy  &  to  the  Joy 
of  all  my  Men  Women  &  Children.  For  210  War 
riors,  Wiandots,  Mingo's  &  other  Nations  who  had 
joined  &  taken  up  the  Tomhawk  &  struck  our  Broth 
ers  the  Virginians  had  also  agreed  as  we  heard  that 
when  they  should  have  struck  the  Virginians  they 
would  come  here  &  leave  the  Tomhawk  sticking  in  our 
heads,  because  they  said  we  were  Virginians.  It  is 
but  a  few  Days  ago  since  these  Warriors  went  through 
our  Town  saying  with  great  Joy,  it  would  not  be  long 
that  this  Town  would  be  no  more.  They  went  about, 
killed  our  Creatures  &  when  the  Women  spoke  any 
thing  about  their  Behaviour,  they  struck  them  &  said 
we  only  kill  your  Creatures,  but  others  will  Come  & 
knock  you  in  the  Head. 

Brother,  Therefore  I  am  glad  to  hear  you,  that 
you  encourage  me  to  be  strong  and  so  1  will  do.  That 
the  other  Nations  have  served  me  so  ill  shall  not  dis 
courage  nor  make  me  faint,  the  faster  I  shall  take 
hold  to  our  Chain  of  friendship.  You  told  me  likewise 
that  I  should  keep  my  young  Men  together  &  not  let 
them  scatter  which  I  shall  do  they  having  already  de 
clared  their  Minds  to  me  that  they  will  do  what  I  shall 
advise  them.  I  have  acquainted  you  that  before  this 


FROM  THE  MUSKINGUM  101 

Wiondoughwalend  with  his  Men  won't  obey  nor  listen 
to  me,  but  I  am  in  hopes  when  they  see  that  we  are 
strong  in  keeping  our  Agreement  that  they  will  listen 
to  me  yet. 

Brother,  Let  us  be  strong  for  our  road  is  stopped 
&  filled  with  Briars,  Thorns  &  Logs,  but  I  am  very 
glad  to  hear  from  you,  that  there  is  hopes  that  it  will 
be  open  again  soon. 

Brother,  I  shew  you  my  heart  that  it  is  good  & 
upright  &  you  assure  me  before  God  Almighty  that 
our  Agreement  of  friendship  will  last  as  long  as  the 
Sun  shineth,  so  I  assure  you  likewise  that  I  shall  hold 
&  keep  to  it  so  long  as  the  Sun  shall  shine.  Your 

Brother 

CAPT.  WHITE  EYES 


[David  Zeisberger  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     6ZZ8.] 

CUCHACHUNK   Sepf.   2^.    1777 

May  it  please  your  Excellency 

DEAR  SIR — I  wrote  to  you  yesterday  &  in  the  Even 
ing  your  Messengers  arrived  at  Cuchachunk  to  our 
great  Joy  &  Comfort  when  I  immediately  in  the  Night 
was  fetched  where  I  read  yours  and  Mr.  Morgan's 
Speech  to  the  Counsil  when  all  rejoiced  exceedingly 
as  well  over  the  good  News  you  communicated  to 
them  as  also  especially  when  they  heard  that  they  had 
Nothing  to  fear,  of  the  White  People,  &  we  can  now 
thank  God  be  quiet  &  without  fear.  I  send  the  Letter 
I  wrote  Yesterday  as  it  is,  &  inclosed  here  is  a  Mes 
sage  again  to  Col.  Morgan.  The  Indians  who  shall 
conduct  the  Messengers  to  the  river  shall  have  the 
Packet  in  their  Care  in  Case  any  Accident  should  hap- 


102         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

pen  by  the  Way,  'till  they  shall  part  from  them  & 
then  deliver  it  to  Mr.  Elliott.  Yesterday  we  had  the 
following  Intelligence  which  was  sent  by  Wiondough- 
walend  to  the  Council  here,  to  which  so  much  more 
Credit  we  can  give  as  he  is  no  friend  to  the  Virgin 
ians,  Viz1,  that  the  Twightees  [Miami]  had  rec'd  the 
Tomhawk  Belt  from  the  Govr.  at  Detroit  which  they 
took  home  with  them  &  called  the  Head  Men  &  Capts. 
of  their  Nation  &  the  Wawiaghtana  [Ouiatanon]  & 
Kickapoos  &ca  together  to  consult  about  it  when  they 
all  agreed  not  to  take  the  Tomhawk  but  to  follow  the 
Example  of  their  Grandfather  the  Delawares  of  whom 
they  had  heard  by  a  Messenger  that  he  would  not 
receive  the  Tomhawk  whereupon  the  Twightees  sent 
it  back  again  to  the  Govr.  and  said  it  would  be  the  ruin 
of  their  Nation  if  they  took  it.  Another  Piece  of 
News  we  had  from  the  same  Quarter, — That  some 
Tawas  &  Chipways  had  been  to  war  &  were  returned, 
who  related,  that  they  had  attacked  a  fort  at  Kentucke 
where  they  fought  awhile  till  on  both  Sides  a  Number 
was  killed,  when  the  white  People  hailed  the  Indians 
and  desired  them  to  come  nigh  and  to  speak  with 
them  which  they  refused  to  do  &  called  the  white 
People  out ;  upon  which  one  or  two  went  out  of  the 
fort,  &  spoke  with  them,  and  told  them  that  were 
sorry  to  see  the  dead  bodies  of  both  sides  lying  there, 
but  neither  they  the  Tawas  &  Chipways  nor  the  white 
People  were  the  Cause  of  it,  but  their  father  the  Govr. 
over  the  Lake  was  the  cause  of  it,  they  should  blame 
him  for  it.  That  after  this  the  white  people  invited 
them  to  the  fort  treated  them  handsomely  &  let  them 


FROM  THE  MUSKINGUM  103 

go  home  in  Peace.63  This  News  Capt.  White  Eyes 
desired  me  to  inform  you  of.  By  information  of  a 
white  Man  from  Detroit  who  came  here  two  days  ago 
but  doth  not  choose  to  have  his  Name  mentioned  I  can 
give  you  the  following  Account.  That  there  are  six 
Companies  of  Militia  amounting  to  about  300  Men  in 
the  whole.  The  English  are  all  for  America.  About 
70  Men  in  Garrison  only.  An  Entrenchment  is  round 
the  fort  on  the  Land  Side  &  about  50  Pieces  of  Can 
non  in  the  fort  &  7  Pieces  of  Cannon  on  the  Wharff. 
If  an  Army  should  come  against  the  fort  every  Man  is 
to  march  out  to  meet  it  &  they  are  to  be  reinforced 
from  Niagara.  Great  Store  of  Provision  is  at  Detroit 
&  the  Inhabitants  full  of  Cattle.  At  the  Sandusky 
there  is  100  Head  of  Cattle  &  the  People  to  whom  they 
belong  will  have  Nothing  against  it  if  they  fall  in  the 
Hands  of  the  Army.  Six  Vessels  on  the  Lake  the 
largest  two  of  16  Guns.  If  an  Army  should  march 
there  late  then  there  will  be  a  large  Cargo  of  Goods  at 
Sandusky.  I  beg  the  favour  to  forward  the  inclosed 
Packet  to  Lancaster  by  which  you  will  oblige  all  the 
Brethren  down  the  Country  very  much  who  will  im 
patiently  wait  to  hear  from  us.  I  am,  Sir  Yr.  most 
Hble.  Serv'. 

D.    ZlESBERGER. 


63  Boonesborough  and  the  other  Kentucky  stations  were 
repeatedly  besieged  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1777; 
but  no  such  affair  as  this  reported  to  White  Eyes  is  known 
to  have  occurred.  The  truth  was,  that  a  relieving  force  of 
48  men  entered  Boonesborough  Sept.  13,  coming  from  the 
Yadkin  under  command  of  Capt.  William  Bailey  Smith. 
Some  lurking  Indians  withdrew  and  reported  that  200  white 
warriors  had  come  to  relieve  the  fort,  and  it  was  now  useless 
to  attack  it.  See  Draper  MSS.,  46137,  where  Dr.  Draper  cites 
this  letter  of  Zeisberger. — ED. 


104         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

TROOPS  FOR   THE   EXPEDITION 

[Capt.  John  Bowyer  to  Col.  William  Fleming.      iUi02 
A.  L.  S.] 

Dr  SIR — I  received  yours  by  the  express  but  I  am 
railey  at  a  loss  what  to  do,  your  orders  was  so  long 
a  Coming  I  did  expect  that  no  men  was  to  Go  on 
the  Indian  expedition  from  this  qarter  and  upon  my 
hearing  that  the  Enemy  was  a  penetrateing  some  Con 
siderable  Distance  into  Pensylvania  I  determind  to 
Raise  TOO  Vollenteers  and  go  and  Joine  Gen1  Washing- 
tons  Army  and  expected  to  have  marchd.  on  Tuesday 
next  but  did  not  attemp  it  before  Last  Sunday  when 
I  made  shure  that  the  men  would  not  be  wanted  for 
the  Indian  expedition  as  it  was  so  late  in  the  season 
the  men  seems  to  be  Willing  to  go  with  the  Greatest 
Cheerfullness  Each  man  was  to  have  his  horse  and 
7  or  8  days  provision  with  a  good  Rifle  I  want  much 
to  be  their  myself  however  I  would  be  loath  to  have 
it  said  that  I  by  any  means  had  a  hand  in  disapoint- 
ing  the  Indian  Expedition.  I  shall  without  delay  do 
as  you  have  directed  me  and  appoint  the  officers  in 
this  quarter  Imediately  to  get  the  Number  of  men 
Either  by  Vollenteers  or  drafts  from  their  Companys 
without  delay  and  march  with  all  expedition  to  the 
place  of  Rondevouse  but  I  am  afraid  it  will  take  some 
time  before  they  will  be  got  Ready  as  they  will  have 
everything  to  prepair  for  the  Campain  I  feel  from 
my  Very  hart  for  our  poor  Country  men  to  The 
Northward  and  should  have  marchd  on  Tuesday  with 
out  fail  had  not  these  orders  Come  to  hand  how  it 
will  be  now  I  Cannot  Tell  one  of  the  other  will  fail 
but  if  I  thought  that  the  Indian  expedition  would  be 


RAISING  TROOPS  105 

Carried  into  execution  this  season  I  would  decline  my 
Going  to  General  Washington  but  if  I  do  I  am  afraid 
we  will  be  disapointed  in  both  if  I  was  to  go  it  will 
be  an  excellent  Company  of  Rifel  men  and  Cannot 
help  thinking  that  we  would  be  of  as  much  service  to 
our  Country  their  as  we  Could  be  any  where  at  this 
time  Especially  as  it  is  so  late  in  the  year  I  could 
wish  I  had  your  advice  upon  the  Ocasion  I  am  loath 
to  do  any  thing  that  I  thought  would  be  a  prejudice 
to  my  Country  but  would  do  every  thing  in  my  Power 
that  I  thought  would  be  for  the  Advantage  of  it  had 
not  these  orders  Come  to  hand  at  this  time  I  should 
Certainly  gon  down  and  brought  you  up  a  true  ace1,  of 
our  Proceeding  at  Camp  how  it  will  be  now  I  know 
not  I  am  Certain  the  men  Cannot  be  got  to  go  to 
fort  Randolph  if  I  Proceed  according  as  I  was  deter 
mined  to  do  before  these  orders  Come  to  hand  the 
Augusta  Troops  are  now  at  Cars  Creek  and  are  to 
march  from  that  place  in  about  two  day 

I  am  Dr.  Sir  with  the  Greatest  Sincearity  yr.  most 
Obed'.  &  Very  hble  Serv1. 

JOHN  BowvER64 
Sepr.  24th.  1777 

To  Col°.  William  Fleming    Botetourt     pr.  Express 


64  John  Bowyer,  son  of  Capt  Michael  Bowyer,  settled  in 
1753  on  Borden's  Grant  in  Augusta  County,  Va.,  where  he 
was  for  a  time  employed  as  schoolmaster.  Later  he  married 
one  of  Borden's  heirs,  and  became  a  substantial  man  in  the 
community,  being  captain  of  militia  (1763),  justice  of  the 
peace  (1770),  and  land  commissioner  (1776).  In  1781  he  en 
listed  a  company  of  Rockbridge  militia  and  joined  Lafayette 
in  the  defense  of  Virginia,  being  wounded  (July  6)  at  James 
town  Ford.  He  lived  near  Lexington  and  died  on  his  estate 
in  1806,  leaving  no  children. — ED. 


106         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

FOREMAN'S   DEFEAT 

[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.    6ZZg.] 

FORT  HENRY  Septr.  27.  1777. 

To  his  Exc?.  General  Hand. 

Early  yesterday  a  Party  of  46  Men  under  the  Comd. 
of  Capts.  foreman65  &  Ogle  set  out  on  a  scouting 
Party,  they  Purpose  reconnoitering  as  far  as  Cape- 
teening66  &  making  their  retn.  in  3  or  4  Days  on  their 
Arrival  at  Grave  Creek  they  found  the  Place  burned 
down67  &  all  the  Canoes  or  Crafts  destroyed  or  carried 
off.  this  brought  them  to  a  resolution  of  returning  as 
they  could  not  conveniently  cross  the  river.  By  5 
Men  returned  of  whom  Col.  Linn  is  one,68  we  learn 
that  about  n  oClock  [this]  forenoon  they  were  fired 
on  a  little  above  McMahan's  Narrows  by  a  large  body 
of  Indians  who  lay  concealed  between  them  &  the 
river  &  put  our  Men  to  flight  such  as  did  not  fall 


<i5  Nothing  is  known  of  the  previous  life  of  Capt.  William 
Foreman  of  Hampshire  County.  He  came  with  a  company 
of  militia  to  take  part  in  Hand's  projected  expedition  and 
was  sent  to  the  relief  of  Wheeling,  it  is  apparent  from  the 
accounts  of  contemporaries  that  Captain  Foreman  was  un 
familiar  with  Indian  warfare,  and  incautious  as  to  an  am 
buscade.  His  son  Hamilton  was  killed  in  the  melee.- — ED. 

66  Captina   Creek,    eighteen    miles   below   Wheeling,   on   the 
Ohio  side  in  the  present  Belmont  County.     It    wras    a    well- 
known  haunt  of  the  Indians.     Washington  mentioned  a  town 
thereon  while  on  his  visit  of  1770.     In  1780  several  boats  on 
their  way  to  Kentucky  were  waylaid  at  this  creek  and  their 
inmates  killed  or  captured  ;    among  the  captured  was  Cathar 
ine   Malott,   who  became  the  wife  of   Simon   Girty.     In   1794 
occurred  the  battle  of  Captina  Creek,  between  a  party  led  by 
Abraham  Enochs  from  Baker's  Fort,  and  a  marauding  Indian 
band. — ED. 

67  The  fort  at  Grave  Creek  had  been  abandoned  before  the 
siege  of  Wheeling,  and  the  building  that  had  been  left  stand 
ing  had  been  burned  by   Indian  raiders. — ED. 

68  For  Col.  William  Linn  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  144,  note 
51.— ED. 


FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT  107 

before  they  had  Time  to  discharge  their  Guns  we 
have  reason  to  believe  by  the  reports  that  few  are  es 
caped  the  Number  of  the  Enemy  being  So  Vastly 
superior  one  of  the  men  returned  has  reed  two 
wounds  with  one  Ball  or  shot,  not  Mortal.  Our  Situ 
ation  calls  for  immediate  assistance  as  we  expect  to 
have  the  Enemy  in  a  few  Hours  at  farthest  we 
wholly  depend  on  you  for  flour  as  we  are  not  able  to 
go  to  Mills  as  a  Party  would  only  fall  into  the  Enemys 
Hand's  4  Men  are  come  in  but  can  give  no  further 
Account  I  am  Sir  with  great  respect 

DAVID  SHEPERD 

There  are  wounded  Men  who  lie  in  the  Woods,  par 
ticularly  one  with  a  broken  Leg69  &  some  others. 

I  am  as  before     D.  S. 


[Recollections  of  Rachel  Johnson.70  28280,  281.] 
Foreman's  and  Linn's  companies  came  [to  Wheel 
ing],  the  next  day  went  down  to  see  if  there  were  any 
signs  of  Indians  at  Grave  Creek,  where  there  was  a 
deserted  blockhouse.  46  turned  out  to  go,  camped 
[that  night]  ;  next  morning  [set  out  to  return].  Linn, 


69  This  was  John  Cullins,  for  whom  see  post. — ED. 

70  Rachel  Johnson  was  a  mulatto  woman,  born  in  Delaware 
(she  said  Oct.  20,  1736),  who  was  brought  to  the  Ohio  by  her 
master  Yates  Conwell,  before  Dunmore's  War.     She  was  in 
Wheeling  at  the  time  of  the  siege,  and  when  the  survivors  of 
Foreman's  party  came  in.     Her  memory  was  very  good,  and 
she   had   a   reputation   for   truthfulness.     Dr.    Draper   visited 
and  interviewed  old  Rachel  in   1845,  and  again  in  1846 ;    she 
died    in    1847.      She    remembered   to    have    seen   Washington, 
George  Rogers  Clark,  and  a  number  of  prominent  Western 
heroes. — ED. 


108         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Daniel  McLane71  and  a  few  others  went  up  [over] 
the  hill,  the  others  marching  in  Indian  file.  The  In 
dians  had  made  blinds  and  were  under  the  river  bank 
&c. ;  when  the  whites  were  opposite  [they  rose  and 
fired].  Foreman  at  the  head  was  first  shot  down  by 
a  single  fire;  the  others  stopped  suddenly  and  were 
fired  on  and  shot  down.  McLane  said  he  ran  part 
way  down  the  hill  [when  he  heard  the  firing]  and  said 
he  heard  the  tomahawks  as  if  the  Indians  were  cutting 
up  beef.  *  *  *  In  the  afternoon  a  fugitive  with 
his  gun,  but  without  his  hat  gave  the  first  mournful 
intelligence  [at  Wheeling]  of  the  defeat,  not  knowing 
of  any  beside  himself  who  had  escaped.  Others  be 
tween  that  and  night  kept  dropping  in.  Next  day  a 
party  turned  out  to  bury  the  dead.72 


71  Daniel    McLain    was    appointed   justice    of   the    peace    of 
Ohio   County  early  in  January,   1777;    he  was  likewise  lieu 
tenant  of  the  county  militia,  and  in  service  at  Wheeling.     He 
died  some  time  before  April,   1778,  when  his  estate  was  ad 
ministered. — ED. 

72  It  was  several  days  before  a  party  ventured  out  to  bury 
the  dead ;    see  letters  post.     A  monument  was  erected  on  the 
spot  to  Captain  Foreman  and  the  other  victims,  all  of  whom 
were  buried  in  one  grave.     It  bears  this  inscription :    "This 
humble  stone  is  erected  to  the  memory  of  Captain  Foreman 
and  twenty  of  his  brave  men,  who  were  slain  by  a  band  of 
ruthless  savages — the  allies  of  a  civilized  nation  of  Europe — 
on  the  28th  f27th]  of  September,  1777. 

"So  sleep  the  brave  who  sink  to  rest, 
By  all  their  country's  wishes  blest." 

Erosion  by  the  river  removed  the  soil  on  which  this  stone 
was  placed;  whereupon,  by  the  order  of  Marshall  County 
court,  it  was  removed,  in  1875,  to  Moundsville  Cemetery.  See 
Southern  Historical  Magazine  (Charleston,  W.  Va.),  March, 
1899,  p.  19. — ED. 


FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT  109 

[Petition  of  John  Cullins73  to  Congress.  2E6;.] 
Your  memorialist,  John  Cullins,  of  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio,  respectfully  represents  that  in  the 
month  of  August,  1777,  your  memorialist,  then  a  resi 
dent  of  Hampshire  County,  Virginia,  volunteered 
under  Capt.  William  Foreman,  at  said  Hampshire 
County,  and  marched  to  Pittsburg,  and  joined  the 


73  John  Cullins  was  at  this  time  nineteen  years  of  age  and 
very  vigorous.  In  his  later  life  he  visited  a  William  Linn  of 
Brownsville,  Pa.,  thinking  that  he  was  the  Col.  William  Linn 
who  had  rescued  him  at  Grave  Creek.  He  found  himself 
mistaken,  for  his  benefactor  had  removed  to  Kentucky  and 
there  been  killed  by  Indians.  W'illiam  Johnson  Linn,  son  of 
the  Brownsville  man,  told  Dr.  Draper  Cullins's  story  as  he  had 
related  it  (37J38,  39).  The  latter  said  that  as  Foreman's  party 
emerged  from  the  narrows,  where  they  had  been  marching  sin 
gle  file,  they  deployed  to  right  and  left,  presenting  a  quite  for 
midable  front.  They  advanced  in  a  wide  bottom  above  the 
end  of  the  narrows,  to  where  a  cone,  breast  high,  jutted  from 
the  rock.  Behind  this  the  Indians  were  posted,  and  probably 
others  on  the  left  of  the  path,  along  the  bushes  by  the  river. 
No  enemy  was  discovered  until  within  a  few  paces  of  the 
ambuscade.  The  work  of  death  was  the  result  of  an  instant. 
Some  of  the  survivors  fled  up  the  river,  some  down,  and  oth 
ers  up  the  hill.  Among  the  latter  was  Cullins,  who  when 
two-thirds  up  was  shot  by  an  Indian  below,  and  had  his  thigh 
broken.  Just  above  lay  a  large  log;  over  this  he  threw  him 
self  to  escape  a  second  shot.  At  this  juncture  appeared  Capt. 
William  Linn  and  a  few  other  men,  dashing  down  the  hill, 
whooping  and  firing.  The  Indians  fled  to  their  canoes  and 
put  off  over  the  river.  Linn  and  his  lieutenant  came  upon 
Cullins.  Linn  wished  to  carry  him  away,  but  his  lieutenant 
thought  that  they  should  rather  seek  their  own  safety.  After 
some  dispute,  Cullins  was  at  Linn's  insistence  carried  up  the 
hill,  over  a  second  ridge,  and  secreted  in  a  fallen  tree-top. 
Linn  left  him  some  food,  promised  to  return, -and  then  re 
treated.  Faithful  to  his  promise,  Linn  came  back  after  dark, 
and  carried  Cullins  on  his  back  for  over  eleven  miles  to 
Shepherd's  Fort,  fearing  to  attempt  the  shorter  road  to  Fort 
Henry,  lest  Indians  be  lurking  to  waylay  them.  Another 
pioneer  told  Dr.  Draper  (17562)  that  the  doctor  wished  to 
amputate  Cullins's  leg,  but  the  latter  resisted  and  in  time  was 
able  to  walk. — ED. 


110        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

troops  then  under  the  command  of  General  Hand ; 
thence,  by  order  of  General  Hand,  your  memorialist 
with  said  Company,  marched  to  Wheeling  and  was 
placed  under  the  command  of  General  Shepherd. 
After  performing  duty  at  Wheeling  a  few  weeks,  your 
memorialist  was  one  of  a  party  of  forty-six  men  on  a 
scouting  party  under  command  of  Captain  Foreman 
and  some  other  officers,  marched  to  the  fort  on  Grave 
Creek,  and  on  their  return  were  attacked  by  a  party 
of  Indians,  by  whom  the  greater  part  of  the  party 
were  cut  off,  and  in  this  action  your  memorialist  was 
wounded  by  a  ball  which  broke  his  right  leg  in  such  a 
manner  that  he  has  never  since  that  time  recovered 
the  full  use  of  it.74  *  *  * 


[Capt.  John  Van  Metre  to  Col.  Edward  Cook.75    6ZZio — 

A.  L.  S.] 

BEECH  BOTTOM   OHIO   Sept  28   1777 

SIR — I  am  sorry  that  I  have  the  following  Account 
to  give  you      that  is  on  the  27th  of  this  Instant  Capt 


74  This  petition  was  presented  to   Congress  in   1834,  and  a 
pension    was   granted.      For   additional    facts   see   23<i   Cong., 
ist  sess.,  Reports  of  Committees,  no.  268. — ED. 

75  Edward  Cook  was  born  in  1738  in  the  Cumberland  Val 
ley.     In  1772  he  removed  to  the  forks  of  Youghiogheny  River, 
where  by  1776  he  had  built  a  large  stone  house,  and  was  the 
prominent   man    of    the    region.      As   both    Pennsylvania    and 
Virginia   claimed   jurisdiction,    Cook   was    an   officer   of   both 
Westmoreland  and  Yohogania  counties,  alternately.     His  in 
terest    leaned,    however,    towards    Pennsylvania,    his    native 
state,  and  in  1776  he  was  a  member  of  her  first  state  conven 
tion.     At  the  time  this  letter  was  written  he  was  colonel  of 
the    Westmoreland    militia,    of    which    from    1781-83    he    was 
county  lieutenant.     As  Van  Metre  commanded  a  Westmore 
land  company,  he  made  his  report  to  Colonel  Cook.    The  lat 
ter  died  at  his  home  between  the  forks  of  the  Youghiogheny 
in  1808,  leaving  one  son. — ED. 


FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT  111 

Linn  with  Nine  Men  Capt  William  Forman  with  24 
Cap  Joseph  Ogle  from  this  Place  with  10  Men  Went 
Down  to  Grave  Creek  to  Make  what  Discovery  they 
could  make  when  Come  there  found  grave  Creek 
Fort  a  [11]  Consumed  to  Ashes,  the  Corn  Cut  up  and 
Tottely  Destro[yed]  and  on  their  Return  to  Weling 
[Wheeling]  About  Eight  Miles  Below  weling  was 
Actacted  By  A  learg  Number  of  Indeans  the  kild 
and  wounded  is  unknown  Aney  ferder  than  Sixteen 
that  hath  Came  Inn  and  Fore  of  them  wounded  sir 
I  Request  the  Favour  of  you  to  have  another  Com 
pany  in  Readiness  and  at  this  Place  Against  my  Time 
is  up  for  I  think  there  will  be  Great  Nesesaty  for  them 
here  for  the  Times  seemes  to  be  now  Dangerous  and 
More  so  hereafter  otherwise  I  Expect  I  shall  have 
to  Guard  the  People  of  this  Place  away  from  here  for 
it  is  Imposable  for  them  to  stay  for  the  Garrison  will 
be  left  Disolate  sir  I  am  yours  to  serve 

JOHN  VANMATRE 

N.  B  SIR  In  case  Another  Company  should  come 
send  with  them  Asufficent  quantity  of  Flower  to  sup 
port  them  for  it  Appeairs  that  they  Cannot  be  sup 
ported  with  Flower  here  the  times  is  so  Difficult  that 
People  that  has  wheat  Cannot  Thrush  it  Neither  Can 
Git  it  ground  As  for  Beef  or  Pork  there  is  Plenty 
to  be  had  Convenient  also  send  asufficient  Quantity 
of  salt  and  Amnition  for  it  is  not  to  be  had  here  any 
your  Compliance  will  Amiably  oblige  the  People  In 
General  sir  I  am 

J.  V. 

To  Mr  Collonel  Edward  Cook    These 


112        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 
[Daniel  McFarland  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     6ZZii—  A.  L.  S.] 

MONONGAHALIA     Sepr.  30th   1777 

HoNrd  SIR — As  I  was  returning  home  I  heard  Very 
Disagreeable  News  that  Colo1.  Lynn  with  a  Party  of 
About  forty  five  Men  was  Defeated  at  the  Narrows 
Above  Grave  Creek  and  the  most  part  killed.  Upon 
consideration  thereof  I  Raised  and  Sent  About  forty 
Men  this  Day  well  Suplyed  with  Oficers  they  Being 
the  most  willing  to  go  to  their  Assistance,  I  could 
not  have  raised  them  Unless  I  Promised  them  they 
Would  Be  Relieved  In  one  week.  I  Shall  Look  to  you 
for  Directions  By  the  Bearer.  I  am  with  Due  Re 
spects  your  Humble  Servant 

DANIEL  MCFARLAND™ 

Genl  Hand      Pittsurgh 


THE   DELA WARES   REASSURED 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  the  Delawares.     iUiO3.] 

FORT  PITT  Octr.  Ist.  1777 

Brothers,    Capt.    White    Eyes,    John    Kilbuck    &c. 
Delaware  Chiefs  at  Coochocking  &c. 

BROTHERS — The  Arrival  of  your  People  here  Yes 
terday  with  my  Messengers  made  my  Heart  glad.  And 
our  Women  and  Children  rejoice.  The  Cloud  will 
now  soon  disperse  and  the  Day  appear  bright  &  Clear. 
I  thank  you  for  the  News  you  send  me.  I  shall 
ere  long  be  ready  to  speak  to  the  Mingoes  &  Wiandots, 


76  Daniel  McFarland  was  a  Scotchman  who  before  moving 
West  lived  for  some  time  in  Massachusetts.  He  made  his 
home  on  Ten  Mile  Creek  in  Amwell  township  of  Washington 
County.  In  1777  he  was  chosen  colonel  of  Monongalia  Coun 
ty,  to  serve  under  Zackwell  Morgan,  because  of  previous  ex 
perience  in  military  affairs.  After  the  Revolution  he  built  a 
fulling  mill  on  his  property,  and  there  died  (1817)  at  an  ad 
vanced  age. — ED. 


REASSURING  THE  DELAWARES  113 

as  1  promised  you  I  would  &  they  will  soon  be 
ashamed  of  what  they  have  done. 

Brothers,  You  may  depend  that  my  Soldiers  shall 
not  hurt  your  Women  or  Children.  They  shall  go  the 
Road  you  have  pointed  out,  &  you  shall  have  Notice 
when  I  move,  agreeable  to  my  Promise.  I  am  deter 
mined  to  do  every  thing  that  is  proper  to  convince 
you,  that  you  have  made  a  proper  Choice  of  your 
Friends,  and  if  any  Nation  strikes  you  on  our  account, 
I  desire  you  will  call  on  me  &  you  shall  be  supported 
with  as  much  Power  as  you  wish  for,  &  if  you  think 
it  necessary  I  will  build  a  fort  &  Garrison  it  either  at 
your  Towrn  or  at  any  other  Place  near  to  it  that  you 
think  proper  and  when  Peace  shall  be  restored  the  fort 
shall  be  burned  &  our  People  shall  all  come  out  of 
your  Country. 

Brothers,  I  make  this  Offer  to  you  to  convince 
you  of  my  Sincerity  and  that  I  am  determined  to  pro 
mote  an  everlasting  friendship  between  the  Delawares 
&  the  United  States.  I  say  Brothers  if  any  Nation 
strikes  you  on  our  Account,  I  will  consider  your  Quar 
rel  as  our  own. 

Brothers,  Two  of  your  Messengers  conclude  to 
stay  here  some  little  Time  longer  for  News.  I  now 
send  the  other  two  Back  with  this.  They  carry  a 
Flag  to  make  Use  of  when  you  send  Messengers  in 
future  to  this  Place. 

Brothers,  Col.  Morgan  will  continue  to  superin 
tend  Indian  Affairs  so  long  as  he  can  render  service 
&  I  rejoice  that  his  Conduct  has  been  so  agreeable  to 
you.  He  sets  out  for  Philad3.  to  Morrow  and  carries 
all  your  good  News  to  Congress.  And  you  may  ex- 


114        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

pect  to  hear  from  him  in  thirty  Days  or  perhaps  thirty 
five  Days.  They  will  rejoice  to  see  your  good  Words 
&  the  Sentiments  of  your  Hearts.  You  may  depend 
we  do  not  listen  to  what  bad  People  say  but  we  are 
determined  to  hold  fast  to  our  agreements,  and  I  de 
sire  you  will  not  fail  to  speak  to  Colesqua77  &  the 
Shawanese  whose  Hearts  continue  to  be  good. 

Brothers,  If  you  can  send  Messengers  to  the  Min- 
goes  up  the  Allegany,  whose  Hearts  are  yet  good,  1 
desire  you  will  do  it  &  desire  them  to  continue  to  sit 
still  untill  the  Clouds  disperse.  I  hope  they  will  con 
tinue  wise  &  not  join  the  foolish  People. 

Brothers,  The  English  landed  lately  in  Maryland 
&  endeavoured  to  march  their  whole  Army  to  Philada. 
but  our  army  went  to  meet  them  half  way  where  a 
Battle  ensued.  We  lost  six  hundred  Men  &  killed 
eighteen  hundred  of  the  Enemy,  this  happened  at 
Shadesford  on  Brandywine  Creek.  The  two  Armies 
now  lye  in  sight  of  each  other  both  preparing  for  an 
other  grand  Battle  which  you  shall  have  News  of  so 
soon  as  it  arrives. 

Brothers  You  may  depend  the  English  will  soon 
be  ashamed  of  their  foolish  Conduct.  All  the  united 
States  keep  fast  hold  of  the  friendship  of  the  Dela- 
wares  &  Yesterday  Col.  Morgan  rece'd  a  Message  for 
you  from  the  Governor  of  Virginia  which  he  now 
sends  to  you.78 

Brothers  Let  us  be  strong  in  our  Promises  and 
keep  true  to  our  agreements  as  you  may  depend  T  will. 


77  This  is  possibly  the  English  form  of  the  Shawnee  name 
of  the  chief  Cornstalk. — ED. 

78  See  letter  of  Sept.  18  from  Gov.  John  Page. — ED. 


REASSURING  THE  DELAWARES  115 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  the  Delawares.     iUiO4.] 

FORT  PITT   Octr.  i    1777 
Brother  Capt.  White  Eyes  &  Capt.  John  Kilbuck— 

Because  James  Elliott  informs  me  you  desire  me  to 
write  something  for  you  to  speak  when  you  go  to 
Detroit,  I  now  do  it.  You  are  wise  Men  and  know 
what  part  to  speak  &  what  part  to  leave  unsaid.  I 
recommend  to  you  when  you  speak  to  Govr.  Hamilton 
to  do  it  in  writing  as  there  are  no  good  Interpreters  at 
Detroit  &  desire  him  to  give  You  his  answer  in  Writ 
ing  for  the  same  reason.  Mr.  Zeisberger  who  has 
your  good  much  at  heart  will  assist  you. 

BROTHERS  THE  ENGLISH — I  have  often  heard  your  Voice  at 
a  Distance  &  my  Nation  have  thought  proper  to  send  me  here 
that  I  might  see  your  face  again  and  hear  you  distinctly  that 
they  may  not  be  deceived. 

\Ve  have  long  lived  in  friendship  with  our  Brothers  the 
English,  we  have  no  desire  to  go  to  war  with  any  Nation 
who  will  not  strike  us.  The  Big  Knife  are  our  Neighbours 
and  we  live  in  friendship  with  them.  They  &  we  have  lately 
renewed  our  friendship  &  we  wish  it  to  last  for  ever.  They 
constantly  speak  what  is  good  &  so  long  as  their  Actions  cor 
respond  we  desire  to  believe  them.  They  have  explained  to 
us  the  Nature  of  their  Quarrel  one  Way.  You  explain  it 
another  but  we  have  Nothing  to  do  with  it.  They  have  often 
told  us  so.  &  they  tell  us  to  sit  still  whilst  you  &  they  wrestle 
together.  But  Brother  you  have  sent  us  a  hatchet  to  strike 
them.  We  desire  you  will  tell  us  why  we  should  strike  those 
who  have  done  us  no  Injury  &  with  whom  we  have  long  lived 
in  friendship.  If  you  can  give  us  a  Reason  which  is  sufficient 
for  wise  men  to  listen  to,  We  desire  we  may  hear  it.  But  if 
you  have  no  other  Reason  to  give  than  your  own  Quarrels, 
we  desire  you  will  say  so,  we  are  a  free  &  independant  Na 
tion,  we  are  in  friendship  with  all  Nations  &  we  desire  to 
remain  so,  &  we  particularly  wish  to  live  in  friendship  with 
you. 


116         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Brothers,  If  you  have  delivered  the  Hatchet  to  the  Nations 
near  you  to  strike  the  big  Knife  &  to  murder  their  Women 
and  Children,  tell  us  so,  &  give  us  a  good  reason  why  you 
desire  it,  that  I  may  also  consider  it,  but  if  you  have  not, 
we  desire  you  will  say  so,  &  speak  to  them,  to  sit  still  for  we 
fear  the  Big  Knife  will  take  a  large  Stride  some  of  these 
days  &  hurt  their  Women  &  Children. 

Brothers,  Sir  William  Johnston  [Johnson]79  took  the 
Tomhawk  out  of  our  hands  a  long  time  ago,  he  buried  it  & 
told  us  we  never  should  see  it  again,  we  desire  you  will  not 
make  him  a  Liar. 

Brothers,  We  wish  to  see  an  End  to  your  Quarrel  with  the 
Big  Knife  we  are  sorry  to  hear  you  speak  to  the  Indian  Na 
tions  to  strike  them  &  thereby  involve  their  Women  &  Chil 
dren  in  Trouble  for  I  now  tell  them  I  hear  the  Big  Knife  is 
almost  opened.  It  has  been  shut  a  long  Time  &  when  it  is 
opened  &  ground  it  will  cut  sharp.  We  therefore  wish  to 
promote  peace  &  to  have  Pity  on  our  Wromen  &  Children. 

Brothers,  We  have  spoke  our  Minds  freely,  Now  see  our 
hearts  &  we  desire  you  will  speak  freely  to  us  that  we  may 
know  what  you  wish.  We  tell  you  it  is  impossible  for  all  the 
Indian  Nations  in  the  Woods  to  hurt  the  Big  Knife,  &  it  will 
be  their  ruin  if  they  do  not  bury  the  Hatchet  What  will  they 
say  to  you,  or  you  to  them  when  their  Women  &  Children 
[are  killed],  Will  they  not  tell  you  that  you  were  the  Cause. 

Brothers,     Be  strong,  &  fight  your  own  Battles  like  Men. 

Brothers,  You  are  wise  Men.  You  will  know 
what  Part  to  choose.  Be  strong  in  all  good  Works. 

TAT  MEN  END 


70  The  former  superintendent-general  for  North  American 
Indians,  who  died  at  his  New  York  home  in  1774.  Morgan 
here  refers  to  the  great  Fort  Stanwix  Treaty  (1768),  when 
peace  was  made  with  all  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  West  and 
Xorth.— ED. 


REASSURING  THE  DELAWARES  117 


[Col.  George  Morgan  to  the  Delawares. 

FORT  PITT  Octr.  i.  1777 

BROTHERS  THE  DELAWARES  —  Yesterday  I  reed. 
your  Message  which  pleases  me  very  much.  It  shows 
that  what  I  have  told  Congress  is  true  &  that  I  have 
not  spoken  lies.  They  know  this  &  you  may  depend 
they  will  not  suffer  your  friendship  to  slip  out  of  their 
Hands,  they  are  wise  men  chosen  by  all  the  united 
states  to  conduct  the  Business  of  the  whole  &  they 
have  ordered  me  to  do  every  thing  in  my  power  to 
convince  you  of  their  friendship. 

Brothers,  I  shall  set  out  to  Morrow  for  Pha.  & 
will  Carry  your  Message  to  Congress  which  will  give 
them  great  Pleasure  It  was  by  their  orders  that  I 
supplied  you  with  Powder  &  Lead  &  if  you  want  fur 
ther  assistance  or  want  a  fort  to  be  built  at  or  near 
your  Towns  &  to  be  garrisoned  by  our  Troops  for  the 
Protection  of  your  Women  &  Children  I  desire  you  to 
speak.  Consider  well  of  the  Matter  first,  You  may 
depend  Congress  will  never  deceive  you  nor  suffer 
you  to  be  struck  by  any  other  Nation  on  their  account, 
without  supporting  you 

Brothers,  Look  again  at  my  last  Message,  which 
I  sent  to  you  by  James  Elliott,  &  Robin  George, 
When  you  see  that  my  heart  is  good  as  a  Man  sees  his 
face  in  a  Looking  Glass.  I  desire  you  to  consider  my 
Words  &  Advice  the  same  as  if  I  was  your  own  flesh  & 
Blood  &  if  you  do  it  will  be  good  for  both  of  us.  I 
am  sorry  for  Delaware  George  &  Buckangehela's 
Son80  but  they  should  not  have  gone  with  foolish 
People. 


80  Delaware   George   was  an   important  chief  of  that  tribe 
who  took  part  in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  was  a  firm 


1:8    FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

You  may  expect  to  hear  from  you  [me]  in  thirty 
five  days. 

TAIMENEND. 

Yesterday  I  reed,  the  inclosed  Message  to  you  from 
the  Govr.  of  Virginia  which  he  desired  me  to  forward 
to  you.  I  expect  the  News  Papers  up  every  hour.  ]  f 
they  come  in  Time  I  will  send  them  to  you.  I  send 
Capt.  White  Eyes  some  salt  for  the  Money  I  have  in 
my  hands. 

AFTERMATH   OF  FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT 

[Gen.   Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.  in  New  York 
Public  Library;     Hand  Papers— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  2<i  Octr.  1777 

DEAR  YEATES — From  Intelligence  recd.  Yesterday 
from  the  Delawar[e]  at  Coochachunk,  I  find  that  the 
Tweetees,  Wyachtanas,  &  Kickapoos,81  have  returned 


friend  of  the  English.  See  journal  of  Christian  Frederick 
Post  in  Thwaites,  Early  Western  Travels,  i. 

Buckingehelas  was  a  noted  war  chief  of  the  Delawares, 
called  by  John  Johnston,  Indian  agent  at  Fort  Wayne 
(nYY35,  38)  "the  Delaware  Washington".  He  was  likewise 
an  orator,  and  of  great  influence  among  his  people.  His  vil 
lage  was  in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  not  far  from  the  present 
P>ellefontaine.  He  opposed  St.  Clair  and  Wayne  and  took 
part  in  the  Treaty  of  Greenville  (1795).  In  1800  he  visited 
Washington,  and  died  subsequently  on  White  River,  Ind. 
According  to  Zeisberger's  letter  of  Sept.  22,  ante,  it  was  the 
son  of  Wingenund,  not  of  Buckingehelas,  who  was  wounded 
at  the  siege  of  Wheeling.  No  doubt  it  is  to  this  affair  that 
Morgan  refers. — ED. 

81  For  a  brief  sketch  of  the  Twigtwee  (Miami)  and  Kicka- 
poo  Indians,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  3,  note  8,  p.  56,  note  84. 

The  Ouiatanon  (Wyactanas)  were  a  branch  of  the  Miami, 
who  in  the  last  decade  of  the  seventeenth  century  had  a  vil 
lage  near  the  site  of  Chicago.  After  the  founding  of  Detroit 
they  removed  to  the  Wabash,  where  they  had  a  large  village 
near  Lafayette,  Ind.  The  French  built  a  fort  at  that  village, 


AFTER  FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT  119 

the  Tomahawk,  and  that  the  Tribe  of  Delawares 
headed  by  Wendaughaland  are  Wiavering.  the  Reg 
ular  Troops  at  Detroit,  am*,  to  no  more  than  70,  & 
the  Militia  to  300,  so  that  we  need  not  dread  a  Visit 
from  that  Quarter,  tho  the  People  here  are  well  Dis 
posed,  savage  like,  to  Murder  a  defenceless  unsus 
pecting  Indian.  I  do  not  find  them  much  inclined  to 


which  was  destroyed  during  Pontiac's  conspiracy  (1763). 
The  British  never  rebuilt  this  post;  but  the  Indian  village  of 
Ouiatanon  continued  to  exist  until  1790,  when  two  expeditions 
by  American  troops — the  first  in  June  under  Gen.  Charles 
Scott,  the  second  in  August  under  Gen.  James  Wilkinson — 
destroyed  the  Ouiatanon  towns  (called  Wea  by  the  English 
and  French).  In  1795  the  Weas  were  present  at  the  Treaty 
of  Greenville,  where  their  chief  Little  Beaver  asked  to  be  re 
stored  to  their  old  home  at  Ouiatanon.  They  were  at  this 
time  granted  an  annuity  of  $500.  In  various  succeeding  treat 
ies  of  1803,  1805,  and  1809,  they  made  to  the  United  States 
government  successive  grants  for  additional  annuities.  Dur 
ing  the  War  of  1812-15,  the  Wea  were  hostile;  but  in  1814 
signed  the  second  treaty  of  Greenville;  and  four  years  later 
ceded  all  of  their  Indiana  lands,  and  agreed  to  remove  to  the 
West.  They  were  at  first  located  in  Missouri,  where  they 
were  closely  allied  with  the  Piankashaw.  In  1832  this  reser 
vation  was  exchanged  for  one  on  the  eastern  border  of  Kan 
sas.  There  they  pursued  agriculture  and  gradually  adopted 
a  civilized  life.  A  Baptist  mission  school  was  maintained 
among  them  from  1847  to  1856.  In  1854  the  Wea  amalga 
mated  permanently  with  the  Peoria,  Kaskaskia,  and  Pianka 
shaw,  and  ceded  most  of  their  lands,  agreeing  to  take  allot 
ments  in  return.  During  the  Kansas  border  troubles  and  the 
War  of  Secession  they  were  much  harassed :  by  1859  the 
confederated  tribes  numbered  only  217.  In  1867  they  made 
a  new  treaty,  ceding  all  their  Kansas  lands  and  agreeing  to 
remove  to  a  reservation  in  northeastern  Indian  Territory. 
There  they  rapidly  advanced  in  the  arts  of  civilization,  and 
in  1889  they  agreed  to  have  all  lands  allotted  to  them  in  sev- 
eralty.  They  still  live  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  Okla 
homa,  and  while  largely  mixed  with  white  blood,  their  condi 
tion  compares  favorably  with  the  average  white  farmer  of 
the  region.  According  to  the  last  few  census  reports,  the 
population  of  the  federated  tribes  is  slightly  increasing. — ED. 


120         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

enter  the  Indian  Country,  and  believe  that  no  great 
matter  will  be  atchieved  in  the  West  this  Season.  46 
men  from  the  Garrison  of  Wheeling,  fell  into  An  Am 
buscade  the  27th  Ult :  about  8  miles  below  the  Fort, 
they  were  entirely  Routed,  &  but  few  had  come  in 
when  the  Accts.  came  away 

Our  Eyes  &  Ears  are  Open  to  the  East,  much  will 
depend  on  the  Operations  there.  Jessy  is  well  &  joins 
in  love  to  every  Creature  About  your  house  Farewill 
Dr.  yeates  your  Very  Affectionate  Kinsman 

Eowd:  HAND 
To  Jasper  Yeates  Esqr.    Lancaster    pr  Col :  Morgan. 


[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     4ZZu — 
A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  HENRY,  October  3<i.  1777 

DEAR  GENERAL — Your  timely  Releif  by  Majr.  Chew, 
was  very  Exceptable  as  we  Could  not  Bury  the  Dead 
before  he  Came.  The  party,  that  went  on  the  late 
Unfortunate  Excursion,  went  not  at  my  Request  or 
Order,  but  from  Motives  of  their  Own,  as  they  were 
tird  of  being  Cooped  up  in  the  Fort  Idle,  &  Purposed 
the  Same  Several  Times  before  I  would  at  any  rate 
Consent.  Indeed,  I  myself  thought  their  party  was 
Sufficient  for  any  Scouting  party  of  Indians  they 
might  fall  in  with  as  it  was  hardly  to  be  Supposed, 
that  Forty  Six  of  our  best  Riffle  Men  well  Equipt 
Should  be  Over  power  [ed]  by  Numbers  of  Indians 
from  the  Known  Manner  of  their  Sending  Small  par 
ties  to  Annoy  the  Settlements 

I  Hope  Majr.  Chew  has  made  a  Satisfactory  Re 
port  to  you  of  Action  as  well  as  of  the  Strength  of  the 
Garrison,  I  am  Sure  Notwithstanding  our  Repeated 


AFTER  FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT  121 

loss's  that  we  Shall  nearly  Make  Up  our  Quotoe  for 
the  Expedition,  tho  the  Situation  &  Danger  of  Leaving 
their  famileys  Prevent  their  going  to  the  Stations, 
Yet  Upon  the  Officers  Receiving  Marching  Orders  for 
Joining  the  Main  Bodyes  their  Quotoes  will  be  immi- 
diately  Compleat. 

The  Friends  of  those  Unfortunate  Men  that  have 
been  Kill'd  in  these  Two  Attacks,  have  Request  me  to 
Apply  to  you  to  Know  Whither  they  will  be  paid  for 
the  Gunns  &  Blanketts  lost,  in  those  Engagements,  as 
they  Were  mostly  taken  from  Others  by  Consent  and 
appraised82  I  refer  you  to  Majr.  Chews  letter  for 
what  has  happend  Since  his  Arrival  and  am  Sir  writh 
the  Greatest  Respect  Your  Most  Ob1.  Hble  Ser1. 

DAVID  SHEPHERD 
Brig.  Gen.  Hand    Fort  Pitt 


[Maj.  James  Chew  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     iUio6 — A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  HENRY,  October  3<*.  1777 

DEAR  GENERAL — It  was  out  of  my  Power  to  Send 
you  the  Inclosed  Account  sooner  as  it  was  Difficult  to 
find  out  who  was  Kill'd,  in  that  Unfortunate  Affair 
near  the  Narrows  Agreeable  to  your  Instructions,  I 
Have  made  out  the  most  Authentick  Reports  of  that 
affair,  as  well  as  the  Strength  of  the  Garrison  of  Fort 
Henry,  and  tho  they  are  imperfectly  done,  as  to  the 
Manner  Yet  I  Hope  they  will  Answer  the  End  de- 
sign'd.  Youll  find  by  the  Report  of  the  Garrison, 
that  I  Have  made  a  note,  to  the  Several  Capts  from 
Monnongalia,  as  those  Gentlemen  on  Hearing  of  the 
Late  Disaster  near  this  place,  Marchd  Immediately 


82  See  the  Appendix  for  list  of  appraisals  of  effects.— ED. 


122        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

with  what  Men  they  Could  Collect  for  fear  others 
Might  not  Come  Since  my  arrival  Col°  Shepard  & 
myself  Marchd  &  Buried  those  Unfortunate  Men,  in 
the  late  Action  a  Moving  Sight.  Twenty  One  Brave 
fellows,  Cruelly  Butcher'd,  Even  after  Death. 

this  day,  there  was  some  fresh  Tracks  Di[s]coverd 
about  Two  Miles  from  this  Fort,  every  Method  of 
Discovering  of  the  Enemy  shall  be  made  use  of  tho 
the  Monongalia  Militia  Will  Return  in  about  Ten  or 
Twelve  Day,  As  they  were  Raised  only  for  the  Intent 
of  Burying  the  Dead,  &  not  more  than  One  Cap1.  One 
Lieut.  &  One  Ensign  of  the  said  officers,  Expects  pay 
as  Officers.  If  any  News  from  the  Eastward  Please 
Let  me  Know  by  the  Return  of  the  Express,  also  when 
I  am  to  Sett  out  With  the  Boats  &c  I  am  Sir  With 
the  Greatest  Respect  Your  most  Obt.  Hble  Ser1 

JAMES  CHEW 

On  Public  Service     To  Brigadier  General  Hand  at  Fort  Pitt 
Pr  Express 

REINFORCEMENTS   FOR   FORT   RANDOLPH 

[Capt.  John  Bowyer  to  Col.  William  Fleming.     iUiO7 — 
A.  L.  S.] 

SIR — Imedeatily  upon  receiving  your  orders  I  ap 
pointed  the  officers  as  you  Directed  and  with  all  expe 
dition  the  Several  Companies  on  the  forks  were 
Drafted  I  attended  all  the  musters  my  Self  except 
Cap*.  Gilmers  where  ten  of  the  Number  you  ordered 
was  to  be  raised  and  as  a  Lieutinent  is  to  go  from  that 
Company  I  make  no  doubt  but  they  will  be  ready 
Cap1.  Paxton  and  Cap1.  Hall  are  the  two  Captains 
with  the  proper  Number  of  other  officers  According 
to  the  Number  of  Men  required  the  two  Companies 


AFTER  FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT  123 

will  be  ready  to  march  from  Collins  Town  Next  Tues 
day  morning  with  out  fail  and  I  belive  will  amount 
to  Near  100  men  they  have  got  the  Number  of  Pack 
horses  ready  also  Beef  &  flower  sufficent  to  Serve 
them  down  to  the  point  also  Tents  and  Kettles  you 
mentioned  in  yours  to  me  that  Donely  Mathews 
would  furnish  the  men  but  I  was  informd  by  Mr 
Sampson  Mathews83  that  they  had  no  flower  at  Green- 
brier  which  made  me  Give  the  Captains  orders  to  Take 
a  Nuff  of  Provisions  with  themselves  least  that  they 
should  be  disapointed  I  got  also  25lb  of  Powder  & 
44lb  of  lead  for  the  men  they  will  march  Next  Tues 
day  I  sepose  you  have  heard  before  this  time  That 
General  Washington  has  give  How  a  Compleat 
Drubing  near  Schoolkill  it  is  Taken  for  fact  this 
way  pray  God  it  may  be  true  If  Col°  Skilleron84 
goes  on  the  expedition  these  men  will  be  at  greenbrier 
before  him  I  shall  do  every  thing  in  my  Power  to 
get  them  away  my  Compts  to  Madam  Fleming  and 


33  For  a  sketch  see  Dunmore's  War,  p.  223,  note  54. — ED. 

84  Col.  George  Skillern  was  an  Augusta  County  pioneer, 
who  as  early  as  1758  was  paid  for  express  services  in  the 
army.  In  1764  he  was  commissioned  justice;  and  when  Bote- 
tourt  County  was  set  off  in  1770  this  commission  was  renewed. 
In  1776  he  received  appointment  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
county  militia.  This  expedition  of  1777  seems  to  have  been 
the  extent  of  Skillern's  active  service.  In  1780  he  became 
county  lieutenant  for  Botetourt,  in  place  of  Col.  William 
Fleming,  and  the  following  year  was  active  in  the  defense  of 
the  state  during  the  invasions.  He  was  in  the  same  office  as 
late  as  1793.  His  home  was  about  two  miles  from  Pattons- 
burg,  of  which  town  he  was  an  incorporator  in  1788.  He 
was  wealthy  and  hospitable,  and  one  of  the  prominent  men 
of  his  day  west  of  the  mountains.  He  seems  to  have  left  no 
descendants  in  the  male  line. — ED. 


124         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

am  with  the  greatest   Sincarity  Yr  most  obed1.   and 

Very  Hble  Serv1. 

JOHN  BOWYEK 

Ocf.  41-   1777 

On  the  publick  service    To  Col°.  William  Fleming 
Botetourt     Pr  express 


[Col.  George  Skillern  to  Col.  William  Fleming.     iUio8 — 
A.  L.  S.] 

SIR — By  the  Inclosd :  it  appears  that  there  is  Near 
100  men  Raisd :  in  the  Forks  Majr  Poege*5  was  hear 
this  Day  and  is  preparing  with  all  Expedition  to 
March  as  allso  I  will  be  Ready  Shortly  and  Should 
you  think  that  the  Number  of  men  Raisd.  on  green 
brier  and  the  Forks  will  Admit  of  me  to  go  on  the 
Expedition  you  will  please  to  Send  me  particular 
Instructions  How  I  am  to  act  as  I  am  a  Stranger  in 
Sum  respects  to  the  Buisness  as  allso  where  you  think 
on  Greenbrier  the  Troops  had  Besst  Randivouse,  we 
will  want  a  pack  horse  to  Carry  our  Tent  Cloath  & 
Bagage  whether  you  think  it  ought  Not  be  a  public 
Expense  Should  there  Not  appear  to  Bee  150  Men 
when  we  Come  to  the  place  of  Randivouse  Majr, 
Poege  offers  to  Re  [sign]  his  Command  to  me  if 
Aprovd  of  But  if  I  goe  with  my  Quoto  he  is  ready 
allso  to  March  as  to  a  Commisary  if  Mr.  Lewis  Dus 
not  Chuse  to  Act  I  would  think  Mr  David  Maysu  a 


85  Probably  this  was  Maj.  John  Poage,  son  of  the  pioneer 
Robert.  The  former  was  assistant  surveyor  in  1760;  three 
years  later  he  was  appointed  vestryman;  in  1778  he  qualified 
both  as  county  surveyor  and  high  sheriff,  and  died  at  his 
Augusta  County  home  early  in  1/89. — ED. 

80  David  May  was  clerk  of  Botetourt  County  court  for 
many  years  before  1/76  and  as  late  as  1791.  Probably  the 


AFTER  FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT  125 

proper  person  However  what  Ever  Instructions  you 
send  me  I  will  Indeaver  to  Comply  with  to  the  utmost 
of  my  power  I  am  with  Esteem  your  obed1  Humble 

Servt 

GEO  SKILLERN 

ye  5th  Octr.    17/7 

On  the  publick  Service    To  Col°  William  Fleming    Pr  Ex 
press.     Botetourt 


[Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.   3NN74-78— 
Transcript] 

FORT  RANDOLPH,  6th.  Octr.  1777. 

SIR — I  recd.  yours  of  the  17th  ult°.  by  sergt4  Flinn,87 
who  arrived  at  this  garrison  the  25th.  do.  I  detained 
said  Flinn  &  his  party  until  the  arrival  of  Capt". 
McKee88  from  the  settlement  whom  I  daily  expected : 
said  McKee  &  8  or  10  of  a  party  were  detained  in 
order  to  assist  in  escorting  a  drove  of  beeves  from  the 
settlement  to  Kelly's  on  the  Kenhawa,  which  escort 
was  to  have  been  militia.  I  likewise  was  ordered  to 
send  an  escort  from  this  garrison  to  that  place  in  order 
to  relieve  the  militia  in  case  any  circumstances  would 
admit  of  it,  which  order  I  complied  with :  said 
McKee  is  not  yet  arrived  here ;  but  by  4  of  the  escort 
who  are  returned,  I  learn  he  is  with  the  cattle  about 
3  days  march  from  this  place. 

In  respect  to  the  troops  who  are  to  assist  in  the 
expedition,  I  am  verbally  informed  those  from  Au- 


Lewis  mentioned  was  Col.  Andrew,  for  whom  see  Dunmore's 
War,  passim. — ED. 

87  Probably  the  John  Flinn  mentioned  in  Ibid,  p.  325,  note 
47,  who  in  1786  was  killed  by  Indians. — ED. 

88  For  William  McKee,  see  Ibid,  p.  348,  note  69 ;  also  Rev. 
Upper  Ohio,  passim. — ED. 


126         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

gusta  are  on  their  march,  but  for  more  particular 
information  I  refer  you  to  Col.  Fleming's  [letter] 
which  I  send  enclosed.  In  respect  to  the  junction  of 
the  troops  I  would  for  various  reasons  advise  to  be 
at  this  garrison.  In  the  first  place  should  it  be  at  any 
other  place  on  the  Ohio,  there  must  be  a  number  of 
men  left  as  a  guard  to  the  boats ;  besides  I  think  this 
garrison  as  nigh  to  the  heads  of  the  Scioto  as  the 
mouth  of  the  Hockhocking. 

Likewise  expect  to  have  in  my  custody  six  or  eight 
of  the  Shawanese  Chiefs  before  you  arrive.  The  case 
stands  thus  :  On  the  19th.  ult°.  two  Shawanese  arrived 
here  with  a  string  of  white  wampum,  &  likewise  deliv 
ered  a  speech  with  strong  protestations  of  friend 
ship — in  the  meantime  producing  a  black  string  which 
they  say  they  had  sent  them  by  the  Del  a  wares,  which 
was  sent  them  by  Col.  George  Morgan.  Their  prin 
cipal  errand  was  to  know  the  reason  of  it.  They  had 
likewise  information  of  an  army  that  was  to  march 
into  their  country,  &  they  beg  strenuously  for  Corn 
stalk  &  his  tribe.  They  likewise  informed  me  that 
the  Indians  had  embodied  themselves  immediately 
upon  receiving  the  black  string,  with  the  information 
of  a  campaign.  I  thought  proper  to  detain  these  two. 
In  about  8  days  afterwards,  Cornstalk's  son  came  to 
know  the  reason  why  they  were  detained,  &  gave  me 
the  strongest  assurances  that  his  father,  the  Hard- 
man,89  &  some  more  of  their  chiefs  should  come  imme 
diately  to  this  place.  1  have  the  two  still  detained, 
and  intend  detaining  &  confining  as  many  as  fall  into 


89  For  this  chief  see  Ibid,  p.  57. — ED. 


AFTER  FOREMAN'S  DEFEAT  127 

my  hands  (unless  it  should  be  to  carry  intelligence  for 
me  to  &  from  this  place)  until  I  have  further  instruc 
tions  from  you. 

I  had  two  scouting  parties  sent  out — one  of  20,  the 
other  of  17  men,  two  of  whom  in  endeavoring  to  drive 
some  beeves  towards  the  garrison,  &  by  disobeying 
my  positive  instructions,  got  killed  &  scalped  on  the 
31st.  of  Aug1.  And  since,  they  have  killed  two  men, 
one  child,  &  one  negro,  &  taken  a  little  girl  prisoner 
from  Greenbriar.90 

The  number  of  men  in  this  garrison — in  my  com 
pany,  i  Lieut,  4  sergt8,  i  drummer,  &  34  privates :  In 
Capt.  McKee's  company,  2  Lieuts,  4  sergt5,  i  fifer  &  51 
privates:  In  Capt.  Henderson's  Company  of  militia, 
i  Lieut,  i  ensign,  2  sergt8,  &  25  privates — total  130. 

The  provision  on  hand  this  day  I  began  to  issue  of 
the  boat  load  I  recd.  of  Sergt.  Flinn,  which  is  all  the 
flour  at  this  garrison.  No  beeves  until  Capt.  McKee 
arrives  with  the  drove,  which  amounted  to  112  head 
in  number  at  Kelly's,  which  is  So  miles  distant  from 
this  garrison.  Only  one  keg  of  salt,  scarcely  i  cw4. ; 
of  amunition,  betwreen  16  &  17  w1.  of  powder,  &  6  w4. 
&  5Olbs.  lead.  No  country  arms.  Every  man  a  good 
rifle  his  own  property  in  good  order;  scarcely  200 
flints  in  the  garrison.  I  have  sent  with  Mr.  McNutt91 
two  boats,  which  are  all  fit  for  use  at  this  place.  Your 
boats,  I  suppose,  would  carry  50  men  each  down 


90  This  refers  to  the  affair  at  the  house  of  James  Graham; 
see  ante,  pp.  78,  79. — ED. 

91  Lieut.  James  McNutt  of  McKee's  company  was  probably 
a  son  of  John  McNutt,  an  early  settler  of  Augusta  County, 
in  that  portion  afterwards  set  off  as  Rockbridge.    See  Draper 
MSS.,  8ZZ35-— ED. 


128         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

stream,  but  35  wd.  be  load  sufficient  up  stream,  as  the 
men  would  require  room  to  work.  For  particulars 
relative  to  this  garrison,  1  refer  you  to  Mr.  McNutt. 
I  am  Sir,  with  Esteem  Yr.  very  humble  serv1. 

MATHEW  ARBUCKLK 
Gen'.  Hand 

NEWS  FROM  FORT  PITT 

[Gen.   Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.   in   New  York 
Public  Library;    Hand  Papers— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  pth.  Octr.  1777 

DEAR  YEATES — I  recd.  your  favours  of  the  13th.  & 
17th.  Ultim.  wish  I  could  hear  from  you  at  this  time, 
to  clear  up  our  perplexitys  respecting  the  many  & 
various  reports  of  the  progress  of  the  Enemy  in  your 
Quarter.  I  believe  I  told  you  in  my  last  that  we  here 
had  nothing  to  Apprehend  from  Detroit.  I  some 
weeks  ago  sent  a  Small  party  towards  Niagara  for 
Intelligence  but  they  have  not  yet  returned.  the 
Clamor  against  Messrs.  Morgan  &  Mc.Kee  was  wrong- 
founded  nothing  appeared  agains[t]  either  of  them. 
*  *  * 

Since  my  last  about  200  men  Arived  here  from 
Frederick  &  Dunmore  Counties. 

###*#*** 

Your  Affectionate  Kinsman 

Eowd  HAND 
Jasper  Yeats   Esq,   Lancaster       Pr  favr  of  Mr.  Jn°.  Anderson 


THK  BLOCKHOUSE  OF  FORT  PITT 

Built  by  Bouquet  in  1764,  and  now  possessed  by  Daughters  of 
the  American  Revolution  of  Allegheny  County,  Pa. 


AT  FORT  HENRY  129 

CONDITIONS  AT  FORT  HENRY 

[Maj.  James  Chew  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.    4ZZi2— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  HENRY,  October  ioth  1777 

MY  DEAR  GENERAL — by  the  Return  of  the  Express 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  Receiving  your  very  Kind  Letter 
and  Instructions  and  can  really  Assure  you  nothing 
gives  me  more  Sattisfaction  than  to  Obey  every  Order, 
but  the  Task  you  have  injoind  on  me  is  almost,  beyond 
my  abilities,  the  Militia  I  Have  with  me  was  only 
Raised  for  One  Month,  and  that  Time  is  past,  about 
Ten  or  Twelve  days,  nothing  is  more  inconsistant 
than  Militia,  when  their  Time  Or  Engagements  are 
at  an  End.  However,  I  have  by  Letting  four  or  Five 
return  with  the  last  detachment  from  the  Monnonge- 
hala  Prevailed  on  the  rest,  to  Stay,  for  the  Ten  days 
you  have  Mentioned,  in  which  Time,  Perhaps  Col°. 
[Zackwell]  Morgan  may  Send  the  Company  you 
Order'd  Here,  as  I  Have  Wrote  to  him  on  that  Sub 
ject,  and  Let  it  be  as  it  will  I  am  fully  determined  to 
pay  the  Attention  due  to  your  Orders,  in  endeavouring 
to  fulfill  every  part  of  them.  I  very  readily  agree  with 
you  that  our  M[MS.  torn]  Cheifs,  Vallorous  for  Kill 
ing  their  Allies,  when  at  Treaties,  may  now  Rest  Sat- 
tisfied  on  the  direfull  Consequence  of  Such,  Vain 
Exploits  should  they  not  think  of  it,  every  Sensible 
Person  must,  &  the  Cruel  Strokes  the  People  Here, 
have  felt,  from  the  Occasion  [of]  those  Ignominious, 
Heroes,  will  ever  be  Rememberd.  what  will  not  Men 
do  for  want  of  Thought,  or  Rather  to  be  Thought 
brave  [by]  the  giddy  Multitudes,  this  last  was  the 
Occasion  of  the  loss  in  the  Narrows.  Beleive  me  I 
never  Saw,  on  this  River,  a  Likelier  platt  of  Ground, 

9 


130         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

for  a  Battle,  for  Such  a  Party,  and  their  [MS.  torn] 
Conduct  in  the  March,  was  the  Occasion  of  the  fatal 
Event  [that]  Followed,  all  the  Particulars  of  which 
when  I  have  the  Pleasure  [of]  Seeing  you  shall  relate; 
I  have  Sent  the  Necessary  Instructions  to  the  Beach 
Bottom  Commanders,  Dividing  the  Catering  With 
them  by  the  Return  of  the  Men  from  that  place  am 
informed  that  Cap1.  Yanmeters  Company  are  daily 
leaving  him,  so  that  that  place  will  be  straitned  much 
if  no  Releif  is  Sent  them.  Captain  Williamson92  of 
the  Ohio  Yollenteers  is  to  bring  the  Cattle  Mr. 
Robinson  wrote  you  about  the  Said  Captain  Choosing 
this  duty  himself. 


92  David  Williamson  was  born  in  Carlisle  about  1752.  ]n 
1846  Dr.  Draper  interviewed  his  eldest  daughter,  who  gave 
the  following  facts  (2834)  concerning  her  father's  life: 
When  a  young  boy  he  was  ambitious  to  go  West,  and  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  accompanied  a  party  hunting  and  trapping 
toward  Pittsburgh.  Soon  after,  he  made  a  settlement  on  the 
waters  of  Buffalo  Creek,  and  going  home  brought  out  the 
families  of  his  father  John  and  his  uncle  Joseph.  They  all 
settled,  and  built  a  stockade,  or  station,  near  the  present  Tay- 
lorstown,  Washington  County.  David  Williamson  was  very 
active  in  frontier  defense,  and  popular  with  his  neighbors. 
In  the  spring  of  1782  he  was  chosen  commander  of  a  force 
embodied  to  raid  the  Moravian  towns,  whose  inmates  were 
accused  of  encouraging  attacks  on  settlers.  This  disgraceful 
affair  ended  in  the  massacre  of  a  number  of  peaceful,  un 
offending  Indians.  Williamson's  share  in  the  affair  has  re 
ceived  just  obloquy,  although  he  is  said  to  have  desired  to 
spare  the  prisoners.  The  same  year  he  was  second  in  com 
mand  of  Crawford's  disastrous  Sandusky  expedition,  wherein 
his  courage  was  of  value  in  securing  the  retreat.  His  popu 
larity  did  not  suffer  by  these  expeditions,  and  in  1787  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  the  count}-.  But  he  is  said  to  have  been  too 
lenient  with  offenders,  and  lost  his  property  through  giving 
security  therefor.  He  died  in  1809  in  poverty,  having  lost 
his  large  landed  estate.  His  descendants  are  numerous.  Sev 
eral  are  still  living  in  Washington  County,  where  as  late  as 
1882  remains  of  his  farm  buildings  were  yet  standing. — En. 


AT  FORT  HENRY  131 

Upon  my  Arrival  Here  I  found  everything  in  the 
utmost  Confusion,  Without  any  Kind  of  Order  &  the 
Very  Garrison,  Enough  to  Poison  Men.  I  Have  now 
Erected  Some  faint  Emblem  [semblance]  of  Order 
and  Got  the  Garrison  neat  &  Clean  so  that  How 
[who]  ever  Comes  after  me,  Will  be  Enabled  to  Live 
Comfortable  &  Keep  up  the  Disipline.  the  Armourer 
that  was  Employed  by  Col°.  Shepard  for  the  use  of 
this  and  the  Neighbering  Garrisons  has,  as  I  am  in- 
form'd  by  all  the  People  Here,  as  well  as  from  the 
ace1,  of  his  Work,  done  his  duty  in  Every  Respect, 
and  is  an  Exceeding  Good  Workman.  Yet  I  am  at  a 
loss  to  Know  whether  he  is  to  be  Employed  any 
Longer,  or  upon  What  Terms,  this  I  am  Sure  that  he 
is  as  Good  for  that  Purpose  as  any  that  is  to  be  had, 
besides  for  the  Work  done  Heretofore  he  has  found 
all  the  Matereals,  and  has  worn  out  a  Number  of  Files 
as  well  as  Tools  of  Other  Kinds  and  if  he  should  not 
be  paid  it  will  Ruin  him  to  all  Intents.  I  would  be 
much  Obliged  to  you  for  Instructions  on  this  Head, 
the  Doctor  Likewise  Informs  me  that  he  has  no  Con 
venience  for  to  Keep  the  Wounded  Men  as  they 
should  be  Kept.  Neither  have  they  or  Can  they  be 
supplyed,  with  Proper  Cloathes  having  Lost  their 
Blankitts,  and  if  it  is  agreeable  to  you  When  I  Return 
with  Boats  Purposes  to  Move  Two  of  them  to  Pitt  as 
he  informs  me  the  Rest  Can  do  without  a  Surgeon 
but  this  Cannot  be  done  without  a  Supply  of  Blankitts 
for  them.93  I  am  afraid  I  have  tired  vour  Patience 


93  In  reply  to  this  appeal,  General  Hand  wrote  Major  Chew, 
Oct.  12,  1777  (3NN58)  :  "Your  wounded  men  are  as  well 
where  they  now  are  as  they  could  be  here.  I  have  not  blank- 


132         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

with  this  Long  Letter.  Shall  only  Add  that  I  will  do 
every  [thing]  in  my  Power  to  Discover  the  Enemies 
Motions,  &  beg  you  well  send  me  by  the  first  Convey 
ance  Two  Quire  of  Paper,  as  I  owe  the  Greatest  part 
[of]  one  Borrowed  Already  in  my  next  Shall  Send 
you  a  Return  of  the  Strength  of  this  Garrison  in  Men 
Provisions  &  Ammunition  &c  I  am  Sir  with  the 
Greatest  Respect  Your  most  Ob*.  Hble  Ser1. 

JAMES  CHEW 

I  have  Directed  the  Commissary  to  Supply  Several 
Distressed  Families  with  the  allowance  of  Soldiers. 
Untill  I  Receive  your  Orders,  myself  and  all  that 
Came  with  me  from  Pitt  Left  our  Clothes  So  that  if 
we  Continue  Longer  the  Garrison  will  be  numerous 
Enough,  tho  of  no  Great  addition  to  our  Strength. 


TROOPS   FOR   THE   CONTINENTAL   ARMY 

[Capt.  William  Linn  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     lUiio— A.  L.  S.] 

CATFISH  CAMP  Octr.  ye  nth    ^77 

SIR— Mr.  MClure94  Has  Arrived.      He  Brought  A 
Letter  from  Mr.  Lightfoot  Lee95  In  which  He  Informs 


ets  to   give   them   when   here,   much   less   to    send   down    for 
them." — ED. 

94  Probably    David    McClure,    for    whom    see    Rev.    Upper 
Ohio,    p.    234.      The    following    additional    facts    are    noted : 
April  6,  1778,  David  McClure  was  chosen  justice  of  the  peace; 
Aug.  3  of  the  same  year,  he  took  oath  as  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  Ohio  County  militia ;    and  at  the  September  court  he 
was   appointed   clerk   of   the    county,    to   succeed  James   Mc- 
Mechen,  who  had  removed  from  the  state. — ED. 

95  Francis  Lightfoot  Lee    (1734-97)    was  a  member  of  the 
Continental  Congress   from  its  first  session  until   1779,  when 
he  resigned  and  the  same  year  entered  the  senate  of  Virginia. 
He   was   a   signer   of   the   Declaration   of   Independence,   and 
only    less    famous    than    his    elder    brother,    Richard    Henry 
Lee. — ED. 


RAISING  TROOPS  133 

me  that  He  thought  it  proper  for  Mr.  MClure  to  Re 
turn  Home  Again  As  the  Congress  at  that  time  Had 
Left  Philadelphia  And  Had  Not  Met  Before  He  Left 
that  Mr.  Lee  told  Mr.  MClure  that  they  Could  not 
Determine  it  Under  two  Weeks  But  as  Soon  as  they 
Concluded  Upon  it  that  they  would  Send  an  Express 
Out  which  I  Suppose  will  Come  to  You  You  will  be 
Kind  Enough  to  Send  me  Express  As  Soon  as  the  Ex 
press  Comes  from  Congress  to  You  And  Inform  me 
What  they  Have  Agreed  Upon  As  I  Intend  to  Rais 
Men  as  fast  As  possible  if  they  Congress  Grants  what 
We  Concluded  Upon  Pleas  When  You  write  me 
Direct  it  to  Colo.  Brown96  Redstone  Fortt  From 

Your  Oblegd.  Humble  Serv*. 

WiLLm.  LINN 

To   His  Excellency   Gen.   Hand  Fort   Pitt      Pr.    favour   Col. 
Shepperd 


TROOPS  FOB  EXPEDITION 

[Calendar  of  letters,  3NNS7,  65,  180;  lUin;  and  Darlington's 

Fort  Pitt,  p.  227.     Oct.  13-16.] 
Oct.  13.     General  Hand  writes  to  Col.  John  Piper97 


96  For  Col.   Thomas  Brown  see  Rev.   Upper  Ohio,  p.  233, 
note  76. — ED. 

97  Col.  John  Piper  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1730.     When  ten 
years  of  age  his  family  emigrated  to  America,  but  soon  after 
landing  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  the  father  died.    The  widow  and 
her  sons  removed  to  Shippensburg,  in  Cumberland  County. 
John  Piper  was  out  with  Bouquet  in  1764;    and  in  1772  re 
moved  to  Yellow  Creek,  in  Bedford  County,  where  he  had  a 
large  place  on  Piper's  Run.    About  1776  he  built  a  large  stone 
house,  which  in  1860  was  still  standing,  and  in  possession  of 
his   descendants.     In    1776  he   raised   a   company   and   served 
one  year  in  the  Continental  army ;    after  that  he  was  charged 
with  the  defense  of  the  frontier,  as  colonel  of  Bedford  Coun 
ty  militia.     Piper  later  served  in  the  state  legislature,  and  as 
associate  justice  of  his  county  (1790).     He  died  at  his  home 
on  Piper's  Run  in  1816.     See  Draper  MSS.,  7E4&— ED. 


134         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHJO 

that  he  has  ordered  150  men  from  Bedford  and  250 
from  Westmoreland  for  an  expedition  into  the  Indian 
country.  Of  the  former,  Captain  Shearer  with  seven 
teen  men  have  arrived.98  Urges  that  the  remainder 
be  sent,  as  Virginia  militia  are  partly  arrived  and 
partly  on  their  march.  The  same  day  he  sent  word  to 
the  county-lieutenant  of  Westmoreland  to  hasten  on 
his  men  and  the  provisions. 

Oct.  14.  General  Hand  writes  to  Col.  William 
Russell"  or  officer  commanding  the  I3th  Virginia: 
"We  have  had  two  severe  blows  at  Wheeling  on  the 
1st  and  27th  ult° — 14  killed  the  first,  and  21  the  last. 
Capt.  Wm.  Foreman  of  Hampshire  and  his  son  fell 
the  27th.  Forty  six  of  them  suffered  themselves  to 
be  led  out  by  Mr.  Win.  Linn,  fell  into  an  ambuscade 
of  50  Indians  and  were  totally  routed.  The  Kittan- 
ning  I  was  obliged  to  evacuate  for  want  of  men.  1 
have  many  difficulties  to  encounter,  yet  hope  to  drink 
your  health  in  pure  element  at  Sandusky1  before 
Christmas/' 


98  A  William  Shearer  accompanied  the  Sandusky  expedition 
of    1782.      Probably,    however,    the    present    allusion    was    to 
Robert    Shearer,   a   prominent   citizen   of   Robinson   township, 
in  the  later- formed  Washington  County.     He  may  have  acted 
with  the    Bedford  militia  at  this  time.     It   would   seem    from 
Major  Chew's  letter  of  Oct.  16,  that  Hand  stationed  Shearer 
and   his   men   at    Beech    Bottom    Fort.      Robert    Shearer   was 
killed  by   Indians  in   r;8o,  while  cultivating  corn  at  his  home 
stead. — En. 

99  For  sketch  of  Col.  William  Russell  see  Dunmore's  War, 
p.  6,  note  9. — ED. 

1  This  is  an  interesting  evidence  of  General  Hand's  purpose 
in  his  proposed  expedition — that  it  was  to  strike  the  Sandusky 
towns,  where  were  collected  the  bands  most  hostile  to  the 
.Americans.  For  a  sketch  of  Sandusky  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio, 
p.  218,  note  61. — ED. 


RAISING  TROOPS  135 

Oct.  14.  Maj.  James  Chew  writes  from  Fort 
Henry,  enclosing  lists  of  the  garrison  and  Captain 
Shearer's  report  from  Beech  Bottom.  Sent  Captain 
Williamson  with  thirty  men  to  escort  in  the  beeves. 
On  their  return  it  is  learned  that  on  Friday  last  one 
man  was  killed  near  Van  Meter's  mill  on  Short  Creek. 
Scouts  report  fresh  tracks ;  but  he  flatters  himself  that 
few  scalps  will  be  taken  while  he  is  with  the  garrison. 
Purposes  setting  out  with  the  boats  next  Thursday. 
Garrison  will  be  weak  unless  reinforced.  Militia 
will  not  remain  after  time  expires. 

Oct.  1 6.  Thomas  Baldwin,  James  Ratchkin,  James 
Parsons,  Edward  Lucas,  John  Baldwin,  and  Michael 
Rader,2  captains  of  militia  from  Frederick,  Loudoun, 
Berkeley,  Hampshire,  and  Dunmore3  Counties  assem- 


-  A  family  of  Baldwins  was  forted  at  the  present  site  of 
Blacksville,  Monongalia  County. 

Edward  Lucas  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Frederick 
County,  arriving  there  from  Pennsylvania  in  1725.  This  is 
probably  Edward  Lucas  Jr.,  since  the  elder  Lucas  died  Oct.  3, 
1/77.  The  son  served  in  the  Continental  army  as  well  as  in 
the  militia. 

A  German  family  of  Rosders  (Rader)  was  located  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  in  what  was  later  Rockingham  Coun 
ty.— ED. 

3  Frederick  was  the  pioneer  county  of  the  lower  Shenan 
doah  Valley,  and  was  erected  in  1738:  but  owing  to  insuffi 
cient  population  it  was  not  organized  until  1743. 

Loudoun,  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains,  was  formed 
from  Fairfax  in  1757,  and  named  for  the  British  General 
Earl  of  Loudoun. 

Berkeley  was  formed  from  Frederick  in  1772.  It  then  com 
prised  all  of  what  is  known  as  the  Eastern  Panhandle  of 
West  Virginia.  Berkeley's  quota  for  this  campaign  was  to 
be  a  hundred  men.  See  letter  from  Hand,  dated  Aug.  12, 
1777,  to  Col.  Van  Swearingen,  militia  officer  in  Berkeley,  pub 
lished  in  Danske  Dandridge,  Historic  Shepherdstown  (Char- 
lottesville,  Va.,  IQIO),  pp.  179,  180. 

Hampshire  County  was  erected  in  1754  from  both  Augusta 


136         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

bled  at  Fort  Pitt,  address  General  Hand  to  the  effect 
that  in  their  opinion  a  campaign  down  the  Ohio  is  im 
practicable,  the  season  being  far  spent  and  there  being 
only  360  men  in  their  combined  companies.  Allude  to 
Captain  Foreman's  loss. 


GOOD  NEWS  FROM  THE  EAST 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  the  Delawares.      iUii3.] 

YORK  [PA.]  Octr.  16.  1777 

Taimend,  To  the  wise  Council  of  the  Delawares  at 
Coochockmg 

CHIEFS  AND  BROTHERS. — When  I  wrote  to  you  last 
I  told  you  you  should  hear  from  me  again  in  thirty 
Days.  I  then  expected  to  have  been  back  at  Fort  Pitt 
in  that  Time  but  as  I  have  much  Business  to  do  with 
the  great  Council  [Congress]  I  shall  not  return  quite 
so  soon  as  I  expected,  they  have  desired  me  to  write 
to  you  to  tell  you  some  of  the  good  News  we  have 
from  our  Armies.  They  thank  you  for  your  last 
Message,  what  you  desire  shall  be  done.  They  place 
great  Confidence  in  your  wise  Councils  &  are  deter 
mined  that  you  shall  never  have  reason  to  be  sorry 
for  being  strong  in  good  works. 

Brothers,  I  lately  wrote  a  Letter  to  Genl.  Hand 
informing  him  of  the  Success  our  Northern  Army 
then  had.  He  will  send  a  Copy  of  it  to  you,  I  now 
confirm  the  Contents. 


and  Frederick.  It  comprised  the  upper  waters  of  the  Poto 
mac,  and  lay  between  Alleghany  and  Shenandoah  mountain 
ranges. 

Dunmore  County  was  formed  from  Frederick  in  1772.  The 
name  was  (in  October,  1777)  changed  to  Shenandoah,  on  ac 
count  of  Lord  Dunmore's  unpopularity  in  the  state. — ED. 


NEWS  FROM  THE  EAST  137 

Brothers,  Since  I  wrote  that  Letter  Viz4,  on  the 
4th.  Inst.  our  Army  surrounded  a  part  of  the  British 
Troops  at  Germantown  when  1500  of  them  were 
killed,  wounded  &  taken  Prisoners.  Their  Courage 
begins  to  fail  for  they  did  not  fight  strong  that  Day. 
However  their  whole  Army  out  &  a  part  of  ours  only 
being  engaged  we  brought  our  prisoners  off  to  our 
main  army  all  of  them  are  now  taking  Possession 
of  such  Grounds  as  will  effectually  surround  our  Ene 
mies.  We  are  making  good  strong  fences  to  Pen 
them  up  so  that  they  shall  not  get  off  unless  they  steal 
out  of  some  hole  in  the  Night  Time  for  now  they  are 
out  of  reach  of  their  Shipping. 

Brothers,  On  the  7th.  Ins*  our  Army  to  the  North 
ward  routed  the  british  Army  commanded  by  their 
greatest  Genl's,  who  sent  orders  to  Detroit  last  Spring 
to  employ  the  Wiandots  &  other  western  Nations  &  to 
hire  them  to  do  Mischief  that  he  might  Succeed  the 
Better.  They  were  so  foolish  as  to  be  deceived  &  he 
is  now  defeated.  I  send  you  a  particular  Account  of 
this  because  I  know  it  will  make  your  Hearts  glad. 
Listen  to  the  annexed  Letter.4 


4  Annexed  is  the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Commissary-General 
Trumbull  to  the  President  of  Congress,  dated  Albany,  Oct.  9, 
1777.  After  describing  the  battles  of  Oct.  7  and  8,  he  says: 
"The  Canada  Indians  have  deserted  the  British  Army  and  the 
Six  Nations  have  joined  ours.  In  the  late  action  the  Oneidas 
&  Tuscaroras  were  of  great  Service.  In  this  they  had  little 
share,  but  they  have  determined  to  send  a  War  Belt  through 
all  their  own  &  other  Nations  to  take  up  the  hatchet  in  favour 
of  the  Americans  agst  the  British  Troops  on  account  of  ill 
Treatment  they  have  reed.  The  Southern  Indians  have  also 
sent  us  the  Eagles  Tail  &  Rattle.  So  that  the  Western  Na 
tion  [s]  will  soon  repent  their  folly." — ED. 


138         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Brothers,  So  soon  as  we  take  Genl.  Howe  &  his 
Army  Prisoners  (which  I  hope  to  inform  you  of  be 
fore  many  Moons)  our  Army  will  have  nothing  else 
to  do,  but  to  divert  themselves  with  the  Mingoes, 
Wiandots  &ca.  but  as  they  &  we  are  all  born  of  one 
Mother,  and  live  on  one  Land,  1  wish  they  would  now 
come  to  their  Senses  and  ask  for  Peace  before  their 
women  &  children  get  hurt  or  are  carried  into  Slavery. 
If  they  lose  this  opportunity,  I  tell  you  they  will  re 
pent  it. 

Brothers,  you  shall  hear  from  me  three  Weeks 
after  you  receive  this.  Continue  Strong  &  let  Capt. 
Pipe,  Colisqua  &ca  know  this  News. 

TAIMENEND 


HANI)    VISITS    WHEELING:     MILITIA    ATTACKED 

[Archibald  Steel  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      iUi25— A.  L.  S.] 

PITTSBURGH    Octr.  21 th    1777 

DEAR  GENERAL  HAND — I  Need  Not  inform  you  how 
the  Militia  Behavd  after  you  Set  out  for  wheeling. 
But  Refers  you  to  there  Conduct  whilst  you  were 
Present,  they  Left  this  at  TO  of  the  Clock  on  Sunday 
Evening,  yesterday  they  Stoptd  at  Logs  touir'  in  the 
morning  where  the  met  with  two  or  three  indians, 
which  By  all  acounts  Defeated  the  whole  Party  killd 
one  and  wounded  one.  Magor  Chue  hapned  to  Com 
to  them  Just  after  the  indians  fired  and  fled.  he 
found  the  whole  Party  So  alarrnd  that  he  Could  Not 
get  one  Man  to  assist  him  to  Surround  a  Cornfield 
where  the  thought  the  indians  were.  But  T  Beleve 
they  Proceeded  on  their  Jorney. 


For  this  place  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  26,  note  52. — Eu. 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS  139 

Just  Now  one  hundred  and  forty  horses  Came 
Loaded  with  flower.  I  Expect  in  a  Day  or  two  one 
hundred  More  horses.  I  will  Detain  them  to  [till] 
the  Express  Returns. 

I  have  Just  Conversd  with  Capt.  wm.  Loughry0 
about  the  Militia  of  Westmorland.  he  Cannot  Give 
any  acount  whether  one  man  from  that  Place  will 
Com  to  your  assistance  or  Not.  I  am  Dear  Sir  your 
humble  Servant 

ARCHIBALD  STEEL/ 

To  The  Honorable  Edward  Hand     Brigadr  General  on  his 
way  to  or  at  wheelen     By  Express. 


6  William  Lochry  was  a  brother  of  Archibald,  county 
lieutenant,  and  was  in  1774  a  justice  of  the  county  court  of 
Westmoreland.  It  would  appear  that  he  was  at  this  time 
captain  of  militia. — ED. 

1  Col.  Archibald  Steele  was  born  in  Lancaster  County  about 
1741 ;  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  assisted  in  raising 
a  company  of  riflemen,  of  which  he  was  commissioned  lieu 
tenant.  They  proceeded  to  Boston,  and  were  enrolled  in  the 
regiment  of  which  Hand  was  lieutenant-colonel.  In  Septem 
ber,  1775,  Steele  was  one  of  a  company  detached  to  accom 
pany  Arnold  on  his  perilous  march  to  Quebec.  He  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  commander  by  his  enterprise  and  endur 
ance,  and  undertook  several  difficult  reconnoissances.  At  the 
siege  of  Quebec,  Steele  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner. 
Being  exchanged  in  17/6,  he  returned  home,  and  was  appoint 
ed  deputy  quartermaster-general.  In  that  capacity  he  was 
with  General  Hand  at  Pittsburgh.  Later  he  served  as  mili 
tary  storekeeper  to  the  United  States  army,  making  his  home 
in  Philadelphia.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  army 
in  1816,  and  died  at  his  Philadelphia  home  in  1832.  Three 
of  his  sons  served  in  the  War  of  1812-15. — ED. 


140         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

[Maj.  James  Chew  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      iUi22 — A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT,  October  2ist   1777 

DEAR  GENERAL — this  Morning  I  arrived  at  this 
Garrison.  a  few  minutes  after  I  Passed  by  Loggs 
Town,  I  was  informed  by  one  of  the  Officers  of  my 
detachment  that  Call'd  at  that  place,  that  the  Indians 
Killd  a  Man  of  Cap1  Lucas's  Company  &  Wounded 
one  Other,  which  I  Brought  with  me  to  Pitt.  I  am 
very  sorry  I  had  not  Staid  untill  you  Came  to 
Wheeling,  as  I  am  at  loss  to  know,  What  I  am  to  do 
As  the  Monnongalia  Militia,  have  left  this  Fort, 
indeed,  my  Leaving  Fort  Henry  was  Owing  to  the 
Impatiance  of  the  Men  to  get  other  Cloaths,  and  fit 
themselves  out  Should  Occasion  Call  them  again  this 
Fall,  which  I  Heartily  Hope  it  will  be  the  Case  and 
that  it  will  also  be  in  your  Power  to  Cross  the  River, 
that  the  Indians  may  be  Paid  for  Some  of  their  Mis 
deeds.  I  beg  you  will  Let  me  Know  by  Express  if  I 
am  to  Continue  Here,  or  where,  Untill  the  Campain 
goes  Forward.  Believe  me  any  Post  is  Agreeable  to 
me  that  you  may  think  Proper,  As  I  will  make  my 
Inclination  &  duty  always  Coincide  with  your  Orders, 
and  am  Sir  With  the  Greatest  Respect  Your  most 
Obd1  Hu'ble  Ser'. 

JAMES  CHEW 

On  Public  Service  to  Brigadier  General  Hand  at  Fort  Henry 
pr  Express.  

[Col.  John  Gibson  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.  iUi23 — A.  L.  S.] 
DEAR  GENERAL — By  the  Inclosed  letters  you  will  be 
informed  of  the  state  of  the  Garrison  at  Konhawa  not 
knowing  what  Quantity  of  Amunition  and  provision 
you  wou'd  Choose  to  send  by  them,  has  enduced  me  to 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS  141 

Send  this  Express  for  your  further  orders.  After  all 
the  Care  that  has  Been  taken  to  prevent  the  Infection 
of  the  Small  pox  from  Spreading,  I  am  sorry  to  In 
form  you  that  a  man  at  McClellans  house  in  town  has 
Been  lying  there  sick  of  that  Distemper  these  sixteen 
days  past,  the  pox  is  quite  turned  on  him  and  I  am 
afraid  the  Distemper  is  Spread.  Major  Chew  and  his 
party  arrived  here  last  night  he  will  Remain  here 
until  further  orders  from  you.  Cap1.  [William] 
Lochry  is  just  come  in  with  150  Packhorses  loaded 
with  flour,  he  informs  me  that  the  Indians  have 
Burnt  a  number  of  houses  near  Kiskemonetto.  Noth 
ing  new  from  Below.  If  you  should  think  it  proper 
that  any  more  flour  or  Stores  should  be  sent  to  Wei  ing 
please  to  acquaint  me.  Capt  Lochry  seems  to  think  it 
will  Be  very  hard  to  Get  the  Militia  of  Westmoreland 
to  turn  out,  and  I  wish  it  may  not  Be  the  Case  with 
the  people  of  this  County.  I  shall  Be  happy  in  hearing 
of  your  safe  Arrival  at  W^eling.  I  am  Dear  General 
your  most  obedient  humble  Servt. 

JNO.  GIBSON 
FORT  PITT  Octr  2ist  1777. 
To  Genl  Hand. 


142         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

TORY  DROWNED;     ZACKWELL  MORGAN  ARRESTED 

[Col.  John  Gibson  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      3NNi82 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT   Oct.  22^.  1777. 

DEAR  GENERAL — Just  after  the  express  left  this  on 
the  21st  [Oct.],  James  Shirley  came  in  here  with  an 
account  of  his  being  attacked  by  Indians,  between 
Capt.  Cisney's  place  &  Sam1.  Newells  on  the  road  to 
Logstown.  They  killed  one  Smith  &  his  daughter,  & 
tomahawked  his  son,  a  boy  about  6  years  old,  &  after 
scalping  him,  left  him ;  the  boy  is  still  alive,  but  I  am 
afraid  will  not  recover. 

I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  the  militia  of  Monon- 
gahala  county  are  in  the  utmost  confusion,  occasioned 
by  the  drowning  of  Higgison,  the  noted  Tory.  The 
report  is  that  he  in  company  with  Col.  Zach  :  Morgan 
and  four  others  were  crossing  a  flat  at  the  mouth  of 
Cheat  River — Higgison  was  handcuffed  &  had  bolts 
on  his  legs  &  whether  he  tumbled  out,  or  was  thrown 
out,  is  uncertain.  Some  say  he  was  thrown  by  Col. 
Morgan :  However,  the  coroner's  inquest  have  found 
it  wilful  murder,  &  a  called  court  has  been  held,  & 
Col.  Morgan  is  ordered  to  Williamsburg  for  further 
trial.  Capt.  Pigman  &  most  of  the  Captains  have  re 
signed,  &  have  publicly  declared  they  will  not  go  on  an 
expedition  without  Col.  Morgan.  As  I  thought  the 
communicating  this  to  you  was  of  the  utmost  impor 
tance,  I  have  therefore  sent  this  express*  &c. 

JOHN  GIIJSON 
Gen.  Hand,  Fort  Henrv. 


8  The    Virginia    assembly   passed    a    law   in    the    autumn    of 
1777,  appointing  three  commissioners  to  proceed  to  Fort  Pitt 


A  TORY  DROWNED  143 

[Maj.  James  Chew  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      iUi24— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  October  23d.  1777. 

DEAR  GENERAL — by  two  men  from  the  County  of 
Monongalia  Yesterday  evening  I  was  inform'd  that 
Hickison,  the  Cursed  Tory  was  drown'd  in  Crossing 
Cheat  River,  in  Company  with  Col°.  Morgan  and  Sev 
eral  others,  the  Magestrates  of  that  County  have 
Accused  Col°.  Morgan,  as  the  Person  who  threw  the 
said  Hickson  into  the  River  and  Proceed  to  find  him 
Guilty  &  have  Past  Sentence  for  his  further  Tryal  at 
\Yilliamsburgh  by  the  Accounts  my  informant  Gives 
me  no  Positive  Proof  Could  be  made  Appear,  against 
the  Col°.  Please  Receive  the  Ace1,  in  their  Own 
Words.  Col°.  Morgan  after  Ironing  Hickson  was 


and  examine  the  extent  of  the  dissatisfaction  in  that  neigh 
borhood  :  Hening,  Statutes,  ix,  p.  374.  The  Loyalist  dis 
affection  in  this  region  seems  to  have  been  a  direct  result  of 
Hamilton's  letters  and  proclamations,  already  cited.  In  the 
autumn  of  1777  the  affairs  of  the  colonists  appeared  desperate, 
and  many  thought  to  save  their  lives  and  property  by  giving 
adherence  to  the  king.  British  agents  sent  a  test  oath,  which 
was  secretly  taken  by  a  number  of  poor  and  ignorant  people 
in  that  part  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  that  borders  the 
Monongahela  and  Youghiogheny  rivers.  Col.  Thomas  Gaddis 
and  Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  were  especially  active  in  arresting 
and  quelling  this  uprising.  A  skirmish  was  held,  and  the  Loy 
alists  dispersed.  Higginson  (or  Hickson)  seems  to  have  been 
the  only  one  who  was  killed,  and  his  drowning  was  claimed 
to  be  accidental.  His  grave  was  marked  for  many  years  at 
the  forks  of  Cheat  River.  Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  was  arrest 
ed  and  tried  for  the  murder  of  this  prisoner,  but  was  acquit 
ted  at  the  trial.  For  a  detailed  account  of  the  episode,  see 
the  reminiscences  of  John  Crawford  in  Draper  MSS., 
6NX86-IOI.  The  excitement  in  the  West  was  intense.  Many 
prominent  men  were  suspected.  Col.  George  Morgan  was 
placed  under  arrest  for  a  brief  time :  and  even  Hand's  fidelity 
was  in  question.  The  disaffection  finally  culminated  in  the 
flight  to  the  British  (March,  1778)  of  Col  Alexander  McKee 
and  his  party.  See  post. — ED. 


144         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

seen  to  turn  away  from  him,  and  was  not  seen  by  any 
Person,  tho,  there  were  six  others  in  the  Boat  or  flatt, 
besides  some  others  on  the  shore,  to  lay  hands  on  the 
said  Hickeson  but  on  Getting  a  Cross  went  off  without 
making  any  Schearch  for  him,  tho  his  Hat  was  seen 
on  the  River,  the  Court  notwithstanding,  have  Done 
the  fatal  stroke  &  Ordered  him  to  Williamsburgh. 
This  will  stop  the  Militia  from  that  County,  which 
will  Ruin  the  Expedition.  Good  Heaven  that  the 
Death  of  a  Vile  Tory  should  Effect  us  so  nearly  & 
Ruin  what  you  have  with  so  much  Labour,  pains  & 
Dificulty  almost  Accomplished.  Yet,  Sir,  Without 
Some  Method  Can  Timely  be  thought  of  that  will  set 
aside  the  ill  timed  Judgm*.  of  Court,  The  Militia 
from  that  County  are  not  to  be  Expected.  I  know 
the  People  there  well  and  am  sensible  that  it  is  not  in 
the  Power  of  any  other  Man  but  Col°.  Morgan  to 
march  them.  You  Good  Sir,  saw  the  Intrepid  beha 
viour  of  those  People  at  the  Apprehending  of  the 
Torys,  also  heard  how  the  Popular  Voice,  was  to 
Hang  them  on  the  Spot,  it  is  easy  for  you  to  Judge, 
how  much  Louder,  that  Cry  is  now  Extended  against 
the  Court  for  Condemning  the  Col°.  Provided  the  fact 
had  been  Proved,  which  it  seems  was  not  done,  im 
politic  when  no  other  Man,  Can  do  any  thing  with  the 
Militia  to  still  Irritate  them  by  Condemning,  the  only 
Man  that  could,  much  more  at  this  Juncture  when  you 
had  Honored  him  with  your  Instructions ;  Might  it 
not  be  to  Presuming  in  me  I  would  intreat  you  to  go 
to  that  County  Your  Presence  Could  do  every  thing 
that  is  Required  for  the  People  there  look  up  to  you 
as  their  Protector. 


A  MEETING  OF  OFFICERS  145 

Any  Commands  you  in  the  Mean  time  shall  be 
Please  to  give  me  shall  be  most  Cheerfully  Obeyed.  I 
will  Repair  any  where,  do  any  thing,  so  that  the  Expe 
dition  goes  On,  and  Let  me  add  that  my  Dear  f  reind 
the  Col°.  may  be  extricated  from  the  Heavy  Charge 
Laid  against  him.  Will  you  be  so  Kind  as  to  forgive 
the  faults  of  this  Letter  as  I  am  much  imbarrassed  & 
Confused  for  the  best  of  Freinds  &  the  Disapoint- 
ments  you  have  Experience [d]  on  this  side  the  Moun 
tains  I  am  Dear  General  \Yith  the  Greatest  Respect 
Your  obliged  &  most  Hble  Ser1. 

JAMES  CHEW 

Col.  Gibson  writes  all  the  News  in  this  part  of  the 
Country  and  gives  a  much  better  Ace1,  of  Col.  Mor 
gans  affairs  than  I  can  Posible  do  at  this  Time. 
On  Public  Service      To.    Brigadier    General    Hand    at    Fort 

Henry 

COUNTY   LIEUTENANTS  MEET;     EXPEDITION 
ABANDONED 

[Calendar  of  letters.     3NN49,  58-62,  187,  188:    TUi2/. 
Oct.  26-Nov.  5.] 

Oct.  26.  General  Hand  writes  to  Col.  Daniel 
McFarland  of  Monongalia  County  asking  him  to  come 
to  a  meeting  of  the  officers  at  Fort  Pitt,  Nov.  I. 

Nov.  i.  General  Hand  writes  from  Fort  Pitt  to 
Col.  Archibald  Lochry  that  he  has  just  returned  from 
Fort  Henry  to  meet  the  commanding  officers  of  the 
counties  of  Yohogania,  Monongalia,  Ohio,  and  \Yest- 
moreland,  and  get  their  positive  answer  as  to  the 
practicability  of  an  expedition.  Mentions  Burgoyne's 


10 


146         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

defeat,  and  General  Potter's  attack  on  Hessians. !) 
Orders  an  officer  and  a  few  men  to  White  Pine  Run, 
as  the  commander-in-chief  has  sent  orders  to  with 
draw  Capt.  Samuel  Miller. 

Nov.  2.  General  Hand  writes  to  Mrs.  Hand:  "I 
am  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  Fort  Henry  on  the 
Ohio,  and  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  I  despair  of 
being  able  to  do  anything  effectual  this  season.  If  I 
can  assist  the  inhabitants  to  stand  their  ground,  and 
wait  the  event  of  our  success  to  the  Northward,  shall 
now  deem  myself  doing  a  great  deal." 

Nov.  2.      Col.  Archibald  Lochry  writes  to  General 


9  The  report  was,  that  "General  Potter  with  the  Cumber 
land  militia  attacked  1000  Hessians  on  their  march  from  Phila 
delphia  to  Chester  with  baggage,  killed  some,  took  300  pris 
oners,  and  seized  all  the  baggage  and  13  pieces  of  brass  artil 
lery."  This  seems  to  have  been  incorrect,  although  in  De 
cember  General  Potter  attacked  a  foraging  party  from  Phila 
delphia,  with  great  bravery  and  effect,  and  was  commended 
by  Washington. 

Gen.  James  Potter  was  born  (1729)  in  Ireland,  coming  to 
America  while  young.  His  father  John  was  sheriff  for  Cum 
berland  County,  and  the  son  began  his  career  during  the 
French  and  Indian  War,  when  he  served  on  Armstrong's 
campaign  against  Kittanning.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revo 
lution  he  joined  the  patriot  forces,  and  was  commissioned 
brigadier-general  in  the  spring  of  1777,  after  serving  through 
the  Trenton-Princeton  campaign.  In  the  autumn  of  this  year 
he  commanded  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  and  was  assigned  the 
task  of  watching  the  west  side  of  the  Schuylkill  and  cutting 
the  enemy's  communication  with  Chester  and  Wilmington. 
The  latter  part  of  the  year  he  retired,  because  of  illness  in 
his  family.  Rejoining  the  army,  he  was  in  1782  commissioned 
major-general,  after  serving  on  the  executive  committee  of 
his  state.  He  was  in  1784  a  member  of  the  council  of  censors, 
and  died  at  his  home  in  Penn's  Valley,  near  Bellefonte,  Cen 
tre  County,  in  1789.  A  portion  of  his  papers  was  secured  by 
Dr.  Draper  from  his  descendants.  It  was  unfortunate  that 
the  entire  collection  was  not  entrusted  to  Draper's  care,  for 
it  has  since  been  scattered  and  destroved. — ED. 


SEEKING  OPINIONS  147 

Hand  that  they  can  furnish  but  100  men  for  the  expe 
dition,  as  their  frontier  is  much  distressed,  the  savages 
daily  committing  hostilities,  burning  and  plundering.10 

Nov.  2.  General  Hand  writes  to  Col.  George 
Morgan  that  he  expects  little  aid  from  the  neighboring 
counties.  He  has  returned  to  Fort  Pitt  to  meet  the 
county-lieutenants,  who  have  not  all  arrived,  owing  to 
excessive  high  waters.  Narrates  the  Indian  attacks 
at  Logstown  and  in  the  vicinity.  "Tom  Nichols  and 
party  are  returned ;  they  were  out  6  weeks  and  a  day ; 
he  has  been  at  Muncy  and  Musquaghty  towns,11  Le 
Boeuf  and  to  the  head  of  French  Creek,  but  could  not 
discover  any  appearance  of  a  regular  enemy." 

Nov.  3.  General  Hand  sends  to  the  Delaware 
chiefs  additional  good  news  from  the  Eastward. 

Nov.  3.  General  Hand  requests  of  the  county  offi 
cers  their  sentiments  in  writing  about  the  expedition. 
Only  seventeen  men  have  come  from  Bedford,  three 
from  Westmoreland,  a  few  are  assembled  at  Fort 


10  See  Lochry's  letter  in  Penna.  Archives,  v,  p.  741. — ED. 

11  Probably  Thomas  Nicholson,  who  had  lived  with  the  In 
dians,   and   on   several   occasions  was  guide  and   interpreter ; 
see  Dunniore's  War,  p.  13,  note  26. 

The  Munsee  were  a  division  or  clan  of  the  Delawares,  who 
had  several  villages  upon  the  upper  Allegheny.  Thence  issued 
the  parties  that  struck  the  Westmoreland  frontier.  These 
villages  were  established  some  time  previous  to  1748,  when 
Celoron  in  his  voyage  mentions  several  "Loup"  towns — the 
Munsee  were  the  wolf— loup— clan  of  the  Delawares.  Celoron 
likewise  mentions  one  town  containing  a  number  of  Renard 
(or  Fox)  Indians — see  Wis.  Hist.  Colls.,  xviii,  p.  40.  This 
would  seem  to  be  the  town  to  which  Hand  here  refers  under 
the  name  of  "Musquaghty".  The  Foxes  called  themselves 
Musquake,  and  the  remnant  of  the  tribe  in  Iowa  is  still  known 
by  this  name.  These  were  the  villages  raided  by  Brodhead 
in  his  expedition  up  the  Allegheny  in  1779. — ED. 


143         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Henry.  There  are  at  Fort  Randolph  130,  from  which 
he  could  not  draw  more  than  100. 

Nov.  3.  John  Campbell,  county  lieutenant  of  Yoho- 
gania,  Daniel  McFarland,  colonel  of  Monongalia, 
John  Gibson,  lieutenant-colonel  of  I3th  Virginia, 
Alexander  Rarr,  colonel  of  Westmoreland,12  and 
James  Chew,  major  of  Monongalia,  submitted  their 
opinion  to  General  Hand.  The  number  now  collected 
will  not  exceed  800;  not  more  than  150  more  avail 
able.  "And  as  the  cold  season  is  now  setting  in,  and 
the  militia  destitute  of  the  necessary  clothing — give  us 
leave,  Sir,  to  offer  it  as  our  opinion,  that  under  these 
difficulties,  the  stationing  a  number  of  men,  not  less 
than  four  hundred,  on  the  frontiers  of  Monongalia. 
Yohogania,  &  Westmoreland,  this  winter,  is  all  that 
can  be  done;  and  from  the  distressed  situation  of  Ohio 
county,  a  number  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men." 

Nov.  5.  General  Hand  countermands  orders  for 
militia,  expressing  his  great  mortification  at  finding  he 
could  not  collect  a  sufficient  body  of  men  to  march 
into  the  Indian  country. 


12  Alexander  Barr  was  one  of  a  group  of  Scotch-Irishmen 
who  as  early  as  1769  removed  from  Cumberland  Valley  to 
Derry  township,  Westmoreland.  The  Barr  settlement  was 
about  a  mile  from  the  village  of  New  Derry  and  contained  a 
blockhouse  known  as  Fort  Barr.  During  an  attack  in  17/8 
011  Wallace's  Fort,  one  of  the  Barrs  while  hastening  to  the 
relief  of  his  friends,  was  shot  and  killed  before  attaining  the 
safety  of  the  fort.  Alexander  Barr  went  down  the  Ohio 
about  1785,  locating  lands  in  company  with  Richard  Wallace: 
he  was  at  that  time  killed  by  the  Indians  for  trespassing  on 
their  lands.  See  Hand's  letter  to  Colonel  Lochry,  dated  Nov. 
5>  T777>  with  regard  to  the  disposal  of  Colonel  Barr's  troops. 
in  Darlington,  Fort  Pitt,  pp.  228,  229.— En. 


CORNSTALK  149 

FORT    RANDOLPH    REINFORCED;      CORNSTALK 
DETAINED 

[Capt.   Matthew  Arbuckle  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      3\N  78, 
79 — Transcript.] 

FORT  RANDOLPH,  7th  Novr.  1777 

SIR — I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  of  the  ar 
rival  of  the  troops  from  Augusta  and  Bottetourt  here 
the  5th.  inst,  under  the  command  of  Col°.  Dickinson  & 
Col.  Skilron  [Skillern]. 

I  am  very  uneasy  concerning  the  batteaux  which  I 
have  daily  expected  for  some  time  past — by  which  I 
expected  to  hear  more  particularly  from  you  relative 
to  the  ensuing  campaign.  I  am  somewhat  suspicious 
that  some  misfortune  has  befallen  them,  being  con 
vinced  you  would  have  despatched  one  down  with 
flour  with  the  greatest  expedition,  knowing  the  condi 
tion  of  this  garrison  both  with  respect  to  flour  &  salt. 
We  were  totally  out  of  salt  three  days  ago,  &  our 
beeves  are  daily  losing. 

I  have  here  detained  Cornstalk  and  two  other  Shaw- 
anese13  whom  I'm  determined  to  keep  confined  until 
I  have  further  instructions  from  you. 

I  much  doubt  you  have  been  disappointed  in  the 
troops  you  demanded  from  the  several  counties,  which 
might  probably  have  defeated  your  design.  Should 
you  be  so  circumstanced,  I  desire  you  would  despatch 
as  many  boats  with  flour  as  would  be  sufficient  during 
the  winter,  as  I  make  no  doubt  but  the  river  may  be 
frozen  up. 


13  The  other  Indians  were  Redhawk  and  a  chief  who  hav 
ing  lost  one  eye  was  familiarly  known  as  "Old  Yie."  His 
Indian  name  appears  to  have  been  Petalla.  See  West  Vir 
ginia  Magazine,  April,  1902,  p.  57. — ED. 


ISO         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Should  you  be  prevented  from  proceeding,  would 
desire  you  would  give  particular  directions  relative  to 
Cornstalk  as  I  am  well  satisfied  the  Shawanese  are  all 
our  enemies.  The  last  arrived  troops  had  scarcely 
flour  sufficient  to  carry  them  to  this  garrison.  In 
closed  I  send  you  the  n°.  of  troops  last  arrived.  I  am, 
with  respect,  Sir,  Yr  very  hble  serv1., 

MATHEW  ARBUCKLE 
Gen1.  Hand 


[Col.  John  Dickinson  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     iUi28 — A.  L.  S.] 

POINT   PLESENT  NEAR  FORT  RANDOLPH     7th  Novr  1777 

DEAR  Sr. — Col°.  Skilron  from  Bottetourt  and  myself 
from  augusta  arived  here  with  our  Troops  from  Each 
County  the  5th  Instant  whare  we  flattered  our  selves 
of  the  hapyness  of  meeting  yr.  Excelency  but  being 
Disapointed  Do  greatly  fear  that  som  accident  or  Dis- 
apointment  has  fell  in  yr.  Way  Which  I  should  be 
hearttely  sorry  for  our  N°  of  Troops  are  Not  men- 
tined  here  as  the  strength  of  the  \Vhol  is  Inclosed  in 
Cap*.  Arbuckels  Letter  agreeable  to  yr.  Excelencys 
Instructions  to  your  County  Lieuts.  We  brought  Flour 
and  salt  seficiant  only  to  bring  us  to  this  place  as  \Ve 
ware  greatly  Detaind  on  our  march  by  Rain  and  high 
Waters.14  We  Expected  to  have  met  with  a  seficient 


14  In  an  application  (1832)  for  a  pension  in  Tyler  County, 
Virginia,  Peter  Berting  thus  describes  the  outward  march  of 
the  Augusta  troops  (6ZZ44)  :  He  volunteered  in  a  company 
commanded  by  Capt.  John  Hopkins,  which  was  part  of  a  regi 
ment  headed  by  Col.  John  Dickinson,  and  Major  McClanahan. 
They  rendezvoused  at  Staunton  and  marched  to  Warm 
Springs,  Bath  County,  thence  to  Jackson's  River  and  across 
Alleghany  Mountain  to  Camp  Union  (Lewisburg),  in  Green- 
briar.  There  they  formed  a  junction  with  Skillern's  forces 


ATTACK  ON  WALLACE'S  151 

supply  of  provisions  here  but  to  our  great  mortifica 
tion  found  the  garison  out  of  salt  and  very  scarce  of 
Flour  tho  Wile  we  have  Beef  am  Willing  to  sur 
mount  Every  Deficalty  and  hardship  untill  We  Either 
see  or  hear  from  yr.  Excelency.  our  Troops  are  Ex- 
streemly  good  In  general  and  in  high  sperits  Keen  for 
the  Expedision  under  a  Commander  of  so  great  a 
Carecter  as  yr.self 

I  am  Dear  general  tho  unacquainted  Yr.  Excelencys 
most  obediant  and  very  Hble  Serv1. 

JOHN  DICKINSON 


WALLACE'S  FORT  ATTACKED 

[Col.  John  Proctor  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      iUi29— A.  L.  S.] 

TWELVUE  MILE  RUN  Nov.  ye  8th  1777 
HONORED  SIR — I  am  Just  Returned  from  Bedford 
with  My  famaly  and  find  this  Quarter  of  the  Contry 
Mutch  Destresst,  and  in  the  greatest  confusion  there 
was  a  party  of  the  Bedford  Millita  at  my  House  on 
theire  Martch  to  Joyne  you  and  receved  youre  orders 
to  return  the  necessity  of  this  Distresst  fruntr 
[frontier]  Calls  for  Asistiance  Coll".  [James]  Smith 
being  one  his  martch  with  a  bodey  of  about  Eighty 
men  thought  it  nessery  to  order  them  With  him  I 
hope  his  conduct  will  Meet  youre  aprobation.  Wal- 
lases  fort  was  Attacted  one  tuesday  last15  with  a  body 


from  Botetourt,  and  crossed  Sewell  Mountain  to  the  Great 
Kanawha.  They  halted  for  several  weeks  four  miles  below 
the  falls,  and  then  descended  the  river  to  Point  Pleasant. — ED. 
15  According  to  a  note  on  the  manuscript,  written  by  Dr. 
Draper,  this  attack  occurred  Nov.  4,  1777.  The  following 
details  are  given  in  a  contemporary  journal  written  at  Ligo- 
nier  during  the  autumn  of  1777.  See  George  A.  Albert, 
Frontier  Forts  of  Pennsylvania  (Harrisburg,  1896),  ii,  pp. 


152         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

of  about  forty  or  fifty  White  Men  and  indeans  the 
peple  in  the  fort  kild  one  of  the  white  men  and 
oblidged  the  rest  to  retrate  but  thefy  are]  Seen  Evory 
Day  in  the  Neibohud  we  havue  though  [t]  it  would 
answer  [every]  avaluble  End  To  Send  out  a  Strong 
party  in  order  to  fall  in  with  them  if  Posable. 

I  Congratlate  you  on  the  Good  Nuse  from  the  Nor- 
ward  and  am  Sir  youre  Most  Obed  Humble  Servt 

JOHN  PROCTOR 

N.  1).  I  just  now  recaved  intiligance  that  our 
batrys  has  blue  up  by  hot  bals  at  Bilingsport  a  Ninty 
gon  Ship  &  2  others  and  kild  three  hundred  Hesions 
and  a  number  of  Helandors  who  had  landed  and  made 
an  atempt  to  storem  the  Garason  but  failed  in  their 
Desires.16  I  am  your  Hue  [servant] 

j.  p 


244,  245:  "[Xovr.l  5th.  The  Light  Horse  Men  return'd  with 
the  news  that  3Testerday  about  n  o'clock  Wallace's  Fort  was 
attacked  by  a  number  of  Indians  on  one  Side  while  a  White 
Man  on  the  Other  Side  came  wading  up  the  Tail  Race  of  his 
Mill  with  a  Red  Flag  which  seem'd  to  be  intended  as  a  decep 
tion  for  the  attack.  When  the  Alan  appear'd  open  to  the 
Fort  in  the  instant  of  the  -Attack  7  Balls  were  fir'd  thro'  him. 
*  *  *  2  of  the  Balls  went  thro'  2  Letters  he  had  ty'd  in  a 
Bag  which  was  hung  round  his  Neck  clown  his  Breast.  *  *  * 
From  what  cou'd  be  discover'd  by  the  Letters  they  \vere  pro 
clamations  from  Detroit  to  the  same  amount  of  those  found 
with  Col.  Campbell.  The  same  day  the  People  about  Palmers 
Fort  were  fir'd  on." — ED. 

16  This  is  an  inaccurate  account  of  the  attack,  Oct.  22,  on 
Fort  Mercer  in  New  Jersey,  by  a  body  of  Hessians  under 
Count  von  Donop.  Col.  Christopher  Greene,  in  command  of 
the  fort,  repulsed  the  enemy  with  great  loss.  He  wras  assisted 
by  Commodore  Haxelwood,  whose  batteries  fired  into  the 
British  ship  "Augusta",  6_)  guns,  causing  a  great  explosion 
that  destroyed  the  vessel.  The  "Merlin"  was  likewise  burned. 
These  events  occurred  the  day  after  the  attack  on  Fort  Mer 
cer.  Billingsport,  where  the  stockade  was  unfinished,  had 


ATTACK  ON  WALLACE'S  153 

[Col.  James  Smith  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      iUi3O— A.  L.  S.] 
FROM  COL'.  PROCTOR'S   November  the  8th.  i/77 

Dr  GENERAL — Whereas  I  am  persuaded  that  you 
had  not  heard  of  Wallaces  fort  being  invaded  and 
other  Damages  Done  by  the  Indiens  near  this  place 
when  you  gave  orders  to  the  Bedford  Melitia  to  Re 
turn  and  Whereas  there  is  a  loud  Call  for  men  here  at 
present  to  Defend  and  protect  this  Distressed  f runteer  ; 
I  have  orderd  the  Bedford  Melitia  to  march  in  Con 
nection  with  a  party  of  my  men  over  Conemah17  to 
Reconoitor  and  Scour  the  woods  and  if  posable  to 
anoy  the  Enemy  or  Drive  them  over  the  alegany ;  and 
I  hope  Sir  I  will  be  Justified  by  you  in  So  Doing.  I 
am  Sir  your  most  obedient  Humble  Serv4. 

JAMES  SMITH 
To  His  Excelancy  General  Edward  Hand     Fort  Pitt 

N  B  my  intention  is  to  Detain  those  men  but  about 
ten  Days ;  and  by  that  time  your  pleasure  may  be 
known 


been   abandoned  by  the  Americans   several   days  previous  to 
this  attack. — ED. 

17  The  word  Conemaugh  is  said  to  signify  an  otter.  The 
stream  rises  in  the  Alleghany  range  and  flows  westward 
through  Laurel  and  Chestnut  ranges,  until,  uniting  with  the 
Loyalhanna,  it  forms  the  Kiskiminitas.  The  valley  of  the 
Conemaugh  was  early  settled  by  Scotch-Irish  from  the  Cum 
berland.  John  Pomroy  and  James  Wilson  formed  the  nucleus 
of  this  colony,  which  was  known  as  the  Derry  settlement. 
These  two  men  came  out  as  early  as  1772.  A  few  settlers 
may,  however,  have  preceded  them,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Conemaugh  near  Black  Lick  Creek.  The  region  was  un 
usually  exposed  to  Indian  raids,  most  of  which  originated 
with  the  British  authorities  at  Niagara.  Wallace's  Fort  suf 
fered  at  least  three  attacks  within  the  year  1777-78. — ED. 


154         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

HAND    REPORTS    ABANDONMENT    OF    EXPEDITION 

[Extract  from  a  letter  of  Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Gen.  George 
Washington.      158113 — Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT  9th  Novr.  1777. 

"When  I  last  did  myself  the  honor  to  write  to  your 
Excellency,  I  fully  expected  to  be  able  to  penetrate 
the  Indian  country.  But,  alas!  I  was  disappointed; 
the  whole  force  I  was  able  to  collect,  including  drafts 
from  Hampshire,  Berkley,  Dunmore,  Loudon,  Freder 
ick  &  Augusta,  did  not  exceed  800  men.  I  am  there 
fore  obliged  to  content  myself  with  stationing  small 
detachments  on  the  frontiers  to  prevent  as  much  as 
possible  the  inroads  of  the  Savages,  and  rely  on  the 
success  of  our  arms  to  the  Northward,  &  your  Excel 
lency's  operations,  for  the  rest."  The  writer  expects 
to  start  next  day  for  Forts  Henry  and  Randolph  to 
establish  order  and  make  winter  arrangements. 


[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Gov.  Patrick  Henry.     3NN  62,  63 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  o.th  Nov.  1777. 

SIR — When  I  addressed  your  Excellency  the  8th. 
ult°.  I  fully  expected  to  be  able  to  give  the  Wyandotts 
a  specimen  of  what  their  perfidy  so  greatly  deserves, 
but  to  my  very  great  mortification  I  am  obliged  to  re 
linquish  that  design.  The  militia  from  Hampshire, 
Berkley,  Dunmore,  Loudon  &  Frederick  arrived  here, 
tho'  not  the  number  I  expected,  Hampshire  excepted — 
that  county  exceeded ;  the  number  I  called  for  from 
Augusta  I  suppose  are  now  at  Fort  Randolph.  My 
last  letter  from  Col.  Fleming,  Coty:  Lieut,  of  Botte- 
tourt  County,  gave  me  little  reason  to  hope  that  I  could 
expect  any  men  from  that  county  in  time.  The  Coun- 


EXPEDITION  ABANDONED  155 

ties  of  Yohogania  &  Ohio  are  not  able  to  assist.  From 
Bedford  &  Westmoreland  in  Penna.  I  did  not  get  50 
men  for  the  expedition — so  that  on  summing  up  my 
force  I  found  it  did  not  exceed  800  men,  including  the 
few  regulars  here  &  at  Kanhawa — these  badly  clothed, 
&  the  cold  season  advancing.  For  these  reasons  I  was 
obliged  to  content  myself  with  ordering  150  men  to  be 
stationed  in  each  of  the  frontier  counties  to  prevent, 
as  much  as  possible,  the  inroads  of  the  savages  and 
assist  the  inhabitants  in  securing  their  grain  and  other 
property.  I  hope  Yohogania  &  Monongalia  will  fur 
nish  for  themselves;  for  Ohio  I  intend  detaining  100 
of  the  militia  from  some  of  the  other  Counties,  if  they 
are  to  be  prevailed  on  to  stay. 

Since  my  last  the  savages  have  chiefly  aimed  at 
Westmoreland  County.  They  killed  a  soldier  at  Logs- 
town  &  wounded  another ;  a  man  &  two  children  have 
been  murdered  about  five  miles  from  this  place;  in 
Monongalia  two  Indians  were  seen  and  I  apprehend 
both  killed.  In  Ohio  nothing  has  happened. 


[Extracts   from  a  letter  of  Gen.  Edward   Hand  to   Richard 
Peters,  secretary  to  Board  of  War.    3NN64 — Transcript.] 

Nov.  9,  1777- 

[Says  that  he]  expected  making  a  move  with  about 
300  men  assembled  here  from  over  the  mountains,  to 
draw  out  those  I  expected  from  the  frontiers — but  to 
no  purpose.  But  I  conjecture  it  has  had  a  tendency 
to  alarm  the  savages  as  they  have  not  appeared  in  this 
quarter  in  any  considerable  number,  since  they  now 
aim  at  Westmoreland — I  believe  they  are  yet  ignorant 
of  our  movements  this  wav.  *  *  * 


156         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

About  the  end  of  August  I  found  it  necessary  both 
to  appease  the  popular  clamor  and  for  his  own  secur 
ity  to  bring  Mr.  Alexr.  McKee18  from  his  farm  &  con 
fine  him  to  his  own  house  here ;  he  had  given  a  parole 
to  the  Committee  of  this  place  obliging  himself  not  to 
correspond  with  or  give  any  intelligence  to  the  ene 
mies  of  the  United  States,  or  to  leave  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Fort  Pitt  without  their  leave — which  on  in 
quiry  found  he  had  not  violated.  During  the  violence 
of  the  outcry  he  was  desirous  to  move  down  the  coun 
try  to  Lancaster  County;  and  he  now  wishes  to  con 
tinue  here,  having  a  considerable  interest  in  the  neigh 
borhood,  which  I  did  not  think  necessary  to  refuse  him 
until  I  learn  the  sense  of  Congress  on  that  head.  He 
has  taken  up  the  old  parole,  &  given  a  new  one  which 
I  enclose.  __________ 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Mrs.  Hand.      3 NN 50— Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  oth  Nov.  1777. 

I  believe  I  informed  you  in  my  last  that  1  could  not 
accomplish  an  expedition  into  the  Indian  country.  1 
was  much  deceived  in  the  real  strength  £  spirit  of  this 
part  of  the  country ;  but  hope  that  the  prosperity  of 
our  affairs  to  the  Northward  will  have  a  happy  influ 
ence  on  the  Western  Indians. 

Jesse  [Ewing]  &  myself  intend  a  voyage  to  the 
Kenhawa  &  are  to  set  out  to-morrow;  on  our  return, 
which  will  be  by  Staunton,  in  Virginia,  I  will  apply  for 
leave  to  go  down  the  country. 


18  For  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  Alexander  McKee,  see 
Rev.   Upper  Ohio,  p.  74,  note  3. — En. 


CORNSTALK'S  ATTITUDE  157 

THE  MURDER  OF  CORNSTALK 

[Portion  of  the  narrative  of  Capt.  John  Stuart.19 
6NNios-ii2.] 

The  preceeding  year  1777  the  Indians  again  began 
under  the  influence  of  british  agents  to  manifest  signs 
of  commencing  hostilities,  and  the  Corn  Stak  war 
rior  with  the  young  Redhawk  paid  a  visit  to  Cap* 
Arbuckle's  garrison  he  made  no  secret  of  the  dispo 
sition  of  the  Indians  declaring  that  he  was  opposed 
to  joining  the  war  on  the  side  of  the  British,  but  that 
all  the  rest  of  the  nation  but  himself  and  his  wife  were 
determined  to  engage  in  it;  and  of  course  he  should 
have  to  run  with  the  stream  (as  he  expressed  it)  on 
which  Cap1  Arbuckle  thout  proper  to  detain  him,  the 


19  Stuart's  Narrative  was  first  published  in  1833  in  the  first 
volume  of  Collections  of  the  Virginia  Historical  and  Philo 
sophical  Society  from  a  copy  furnished  to  the  editor  by  the 
son  of  the  author.  The  latter  says,  in  his  accompanying  let 
ter,  that  he  does  not  know  the  date  at  which  the  narrative 
was  written :  and  that  in  presenting  the  copy  he  has  made 
some  minor  changes  in  spelling  and  punctuation.  In  1877  the 
American  Magazine  of  History  printed  this  narrative  (vol.  i, 
commencing  pp.  668,  740)  from  a  manuscript  said  to  be  the 
original  by  John  Stuart,  and  then  owned  by  a  subscriber  in 
Salem,  Va.,  who  signed  himself  "Wm.  McC".  This  is  dated 
December,  1820.  Among  the  Draper  MSS.  is  what  appears  to 
be  a  portion  of  the  original  manuscript,  from  which  we  print 
the  extract  relating  to  Cornstalk's  murder,  of  which  Stuart 
was  an  eye-witness.  Dr.  Draper  was  long  in  correspondence 
with  Charles  A.  Stuart,  son  of  the  writer,  from  whom  he  may 
readily  have  obtained  this  document.  Both  this  and  that  at 
Salem  may  have  been  originals  prepared  by  the  author.  The 
circumstance  of  the  date  would  go  to  show  that  the  latter 
was  a  second  edition,  since  the  son  testified  that  the  original 
in  his  possession  showed  no  date.  This  narrative  of  Stuart 
has  been  made  the  basis  of  all  detailed  accounts  of  Corn 
stalk's  death,  by  Doddridge,  Withers,  and  later  writers.  The 
accompanying  documents  and  letters  throw  additional  light 
on  this  tragic  episode. — ED. 


158         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

young  Redhawk  and  another  fellow  as  hostages  to 
prevent  the  nation  from  joining  the  British.  In  the 
course  of  that  summer  our  new  Government  [ordered] 
an  army  to  be  raised  of  volenteers  and  General  Hand 
was  appointed  to  the  command,  who  as  soon  as  suffi 
cient  fore  could  be  collected  at  fort  Pit  was  to  begin 
his  march  down  the  river  to  point  pleasant,  and  there 
to  meet  a  reinforcement  expected  to  be  raised  in 

Augusta  and  Botetourt  counties. 
******** 

We  collected  in  all  30  or  40  men  and  joined  the  rest 
of  the  men  on  their  march  under  Colo.  Skillern  to 
point  pleasant  when  we  arrived  there,  there  was  no 
account  of  General  Hand  or  his  army  and  but  little 
provision  made  to  supply  our  troops  save  what  we  had 
taken  with  us  down  the  Kanawha;  and  we  found  the 
garison  unable  to  give  us  any  relief,  being  [having] 
nearly  exhausted  what  had  been  previously  furnished 
before  our  arrival.  we  concluded  to  remain  at  the 
garison  until  General  Hand  should  arrive,  or  some 
accounts  from  him ;  during  our  stay  two  young  men 
of  the  name  of  Hamilton,  and  Gilmore,  crossed  the 
Kanawha  one  day  to  hunt  deer ;  on  their  return  to 
camp  some  Indians  had  approached  to  view  our  en 
campment  and  had  concealed  themselves  in  the  weeds 
of  the  top  of  the  bank  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kanawha ; 
and  as  Gilmore  came  along  they  killed  him  on  [the] 
bank  Capt.  Arbuckle  and  myself  were  standing  on 
the  point  of  the  opposite  bank  when  the  gun  fired  and 
wondered  what  any  one  was  doing  there  firing  con 
trary  to  orders ;  when  we  Saw  Hamilton  run  down  the 
bank  and  call  out  that  Gilmore  was  killed.  Gilmore 


MURDER  OF  CORNSTALK  159 

was  one  of  the  company  of  Capt.  John  Hall  from  that 
part  of  the  country  now  called  Rockbridge  county 
[The  captain  was]  a  relation  of  Gilmores  and  whose 
familey  wer  chiefly  cut  off  by  the  Indians  in  176^° 
when  Greenbriar  was  cut  off.  Halls  men  instantly 
jumped  in  to  a  canoe  and  went  to  the  relief  of  Hamil 
ton  brought  the  corpse  of  Gilmore  down  the  bank 
scalped  and  covered  with  blood,  he  was  put  into 
canoe  and  as  the[y]  passed  the  River  I  observed  to 
Capt.  Arbuckle  the[y]  would  be  for  killing  the  hos 
tages  as  soon  as  the  canoe  would  land  but  he  sup 
posed  the[y]  would  not  commit  so  great  an  out  rage 
on  the  innocent  who  were  not  accessary  to  Gilmore' s 
murder. 

but  the  canoe  was  scarsely  landed  in  the  creek  when 
the  cry  was  raised  let  us  kill  the  Indians  in  the  fort 
and  every  man  with  his  gun  in  his  hand  came  up  the 
bank  pale  as  death  with  rage.  Capt.  Hall  was  at  their 
head.  Captain  Arbuckle  and  myself  met  them  en 
deavoring  to  disuade  them  from  so  unjustifyable  an 
action  but  they  cocked  their  guns  threatened  us  with 
instant  death  if  we  did  not  desist  and  rushed  into  the 
fort. 

On  the  preceeding  day  Corn  Stalk's  son  had  come 
from  the  nation  to  see  his  father  and  to  know7  if  he 


20  The  Gilmore  family  lived  on  Carr's  Creek  in  Augusta 
(later  Rockbridge)  County.  On  Oct.  10,  1759,  this  settlement 
was  attacked  by  a  band  of  Shawnee,  headed  by  Cornstalk, 
who  massacred  John  Gilmore  and  his  wife  and  son  Thomas, 
and  the  wife  of  William  Gilmore ;  after  killing  Thomas  they 
captured  his  wife  and  three  children.  The  marauders  were 
pursued  and  the  prisoners  retaken.  The  same  settlement  was 
again  raided  in  1763,  in  which  some  of  the  Gilmore  connection 
suffered,  as  well  as  their  neighbors  the  Hamiltons. — ED. 


160         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

was  alive ;  when  he  came  to  the  River  his  father  was 
that  instant  delineating  a  map  of  the  country  and  wa 
ters  between  the  Shawanee  town  and  the  Mississippi 
at  our  request  with  Chalk  upon  the  floor,  he  instantly 
knew  the  voice  of  his  son,  went  out  and  answered 
him,  when  the  young  fellow  crossed  over  and  they 
embraced  each  other  in  the  most  tender  and  affection 
ate  manner.  The  next  day  the  Interpreter's  wife 
who  had  been  a  prisoner  with  the  Indians  and  had 
recently  left  them,  hearing  the  uproar  and  seeing  the 
men  coming  to  kill  the  Indians  for  whom  she  seemed 
to  have  an  affection,  run  to  their  cabin  informed  them 
the  people  were  dimming  to  kill  them  and  that  the[y] 
said  the  Indians  that  killed  Gilmore  came  with  Elinip- 
sico  the  day  before,  he  utterly  denied  it  declared  he 
knew  nothing  of  them,  and  trembled  exceedingly ; 
his  father  incouraged  him  told  him  not  to  be  afraid, 
for  the  great  Spirit  above  had  sent  him  there  to  be 
killed,  the  men  advanced  to  the  door,  the  Corn  Stalk 
arose  and  met  them,  seven  or  eight  bullets  were  fired 
into  him,  and  his  son  was  shot  dead  as  he  sat  upon  a 
stool.  Redhawk  made  an  attempt  to  go  up  the  chim 
ney  but  was  shot  down,  the  other  Indian  was  shame 
fully  mangled.  I  grieved  to  see  him  so  long  a  dying. 
Thus  died  the  great  Cornstalk  warrior  who  from  per 
sonal  appearance  and  many  brave  acts  was  undoubt 
edly  a  Hero.  I  have  no  doubt  if  he  had  been  spared 
but  he  would  have  been  friendly  to  the  Americans  for 
nothing  could  have  induced  him  to  make  the  visit  to 
the  garison  at  that  critical  time,  but  to  communicate 
the  temper  and  disposition  of  the  Indians,  and  their 
design  of  taking  part  with  the  British.  on  the  day 


MONUMENT  TO  CORNSTALK. 
At  Point  Pleasant.  \Y.  Va.      From  a  recent  photograph 


MURDER  OF  CORNSTALK  161 

he  was  killed  we  held  a  council  in  which  he  was  pres 
ent;  his  countenance  was  dejected  and  he  made  a 
Speech  all  of  which  seemed  to  indicate  an  honest  and 
manly  disposition,  he  acknowledged  that  he  expected 
himself  and  his  party  would  have  to  run  with  the 
stream,  for  all  the  Indians  or  those  Indians  on  the 
lakes  and  to  the  north  were  joinin  the  British.21 
******** 

When  he  made  his  speech  in  council  with  us  he 
seemed  impressed  with  an  awful  presentment  of  his 
aproaching  fate  for  he  repeatedly  said,  when  I  was  a 
young  man  and  went  to  war  I  thought  that  might  be 
the  last  time,  and  I  would  return  no  more  but  now  I 
am  here  among  you  and  you  may  kill  me  if  you  please, 
I  can  die  but  once  and  its  all  one  to  me  now  or  at 
another  time,  this  sentiment  concluded  every  period 


21  The  British  reports  of  the  murder  of  Cornstalk  are  as 
follows : 

Jan.  15,  17/8,  Hamilton,  then  at  Detroit,  wrote  to  General 
Carleton :  "Different  parties  of  Indians  have  related  that  a 
Sergeant  from  that  place  [Fort  Pitt]  having  been  killed  by 
some  Shawanese,  his  officer  required  of  the  Commandant  to 
deliver  up  The  Cornstalk  (a  Shawanese  Chief  at  that  time  at 
Fort  Pitt  being  in  the  Virginia  Interest)  and  some  of  his  fol 
lowers,  this  was  refused,  on  which  the  Cornstalk  and  his 
people  were  seized  on  by  force,  taken  out  of  the  Fort  and 
put  to  Death,  that  the  Commandant  dissatisfied  with  this  act 
of  violence  had  gone  off  to  Philadelphia." — Mich.  Pion.  & 
Hist.  Colls.,  ix,  p.  481. 

Jan.  31,  1778,  Joseph  Galloway  wrote  from  Philadelphia: 
"I  have  received  an  Account  from  Fort  Pitt  that  Col.  Hand 
had  called  to  a  Treaty  the  Great  Corn  Stalk  an  Indian  Chief 
with  other  Sachems  of  the  Delaware  and  Shawanese  Tribes, 
and  while  in  Treaty  a  Number  of  the  Frontier  People,  as  is 
supposed  under  the  Direction  of  Hand,  rush'd  in  upon  them 
and  put  them  to  Death." — Dartmouth  MSS.,  reproduced  in 
B.  J.  Stevens,  Facsimiles  of  Manuscripts  in  European  Arch 
ives  relating  to  America,  no.  2078,  p.  n. — ED. 
11 


162         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

of  his  Speech  he  was  killed  one  hour  after.  A  few 
days  afterwards  General  Hand  arrived  hut  had  no 
troops  and  we  were  dismissed  and  returned  home 
Shortly  before  Christmass.22 

Not  long  after  we  left  the  gar i son  a  small  party 
apeared  in  sight  of  the  fort,  Lieutenant  More23  was 
ordered  with  a  party  to  pursue  them,  they  had  come 
to  retaliate  the  murder  of  Cornstalk.  Moore  had  not 
advanced  }4  of  a  mile  when  he  fell  into  an  ambuscade 
and  was  killed  with  i  or  2  of  his  men. 


[Deposition  on  the  murder.      3NN8o — Transcript.] 

FORT  RANDOLPH,  BOTTETOURT  COTY.,  10  Novr.  1777 
The  deposition  of  Capt.  John  Anderson,  Wm.  Ward, 
&  Richard  Thomas,24  being  first  sworn  on  the  Holy 


22  Nov.  19,  17/7,  General  Hand  issued  orders  to  Col.  George 
Skillern,     commanding    the     Botetourt    militia,     and     Colonel 
Dickinson,    commanding   the    Augusta    militia,    with    their   re 
spective  troops  assembled  there,  to  return  home  as  the  expe 
dition  is  relinquished  ;    Draper  MSS.,  3NN68. — En. 

23  There   were  at  this  time   several    families  of    Moores  in 
southwestern  Virginia;    Andrew  and  William  Moore  of  Rock- 
bridge  County;    James  Moore,  founder  of  Abb's  Valley  settle 
ment;    William  Moore  on  Clinch,  who  was  a  lieutenant  in  the 
Island  Flats  battle  of  17/6.     All  of  these  men  were  known  to 
have  been  living  after  1777.     The  Moore  here  mentioned  was 
probably  related  to  one  of  these  families. — ED. 

24  John  Anderson  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Augusta 
County,  being  a  magistrate  there  as  early  as  1745.     His  home 
was  on  Middle  River,  not  far  from  Staunton.     Probably  this 
deponent  was  a  son  or  nephew  of  the  first  settler. 

William  Ward  was  the  eldest  son  of  Capt.  James  Ward, 
noted  in  Duiunorc's  War,  p.  276,  note  93,  and  a  nephew  of 
Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle.  He  afterwards  emigrated  to  Ken 
tucky  and  thence  to  Ohio,  becoming  in  1806  founder  of  the 
town  of  Urbana,  and  grandfather  of  John  Quincy  Adams 
Ward,  the  American  sculptor. 

A  Revolutionary  pensioner  named  Richard  Thomas  was 
living  in  Kentucky  as  late  as  1840. — ED. 


MURDER  OF  CORNSTALK  163 

Evangelists,  deposeth  &  saith:  That  they  were  pres 
ent  when  Rob1.  Gilmore  was  brought  over  the  Kan- 
hawa  River  killed  &  scalped ;  on  which  a  n°.  of  armed 
men  appeared  to  be  coming  into  the  garrison  in  a  riot 
ous  manner,  on  which  said  deponents  suspected  that 
they  \vere  determined  to  kill  the  Indians  in  custody  in 
said  garrison;  &  further  say,  that  Capt.  Mathew 
Arbuckle  told  them,  that  they  should  not  be  killed,  as 
they  were  his  prisoners,  &  it  appeared  to  them  that  it 
was  not  in  his  power  to  stop  their  supposed  intentions. 
And  further  say,  that  they  proceeded  into  the  garri 
son,  &  a  number  of  guns  was  shortly  fired,  on  which 
the  Indians  were  all  killed,  being  four  in  number,  as 
they  afterwards  understood — &  further  saith  not. 

JN°.   ANDERSON, 
Wm.  WARD 
Ricnd.  THOMAS. 
Sworn  before  me,  the  date  above  said. 

GEO.  SKILRON 
I  do  certify  that  I  know  the  above  deposition  to  be 

just  &  true.  010  o 

SAM!.  SMYTH,  Surg". 


[Stanza  of  a  popular  ballad  related  to  Dr.  Draper  by  Capt. 
James  Ward  of  Kentucky.25     96654.] 

King  Cornstalk,  the  Shawnee's  boast 
Old  Yie,  by  whom  much  blood  we've  lost, 
The  Red  Hawk  and  Elinipsico 
Lie  dead  beside  the  Ohio. 


25  Capt.  James  Ward,  second  son  of  the  one  of  that  name 
killed  at  the  Battle  of  Point  Pleasant,  was  born  in  Staunton, 
Sept.  19,  1763.  When  a  boy  of  six  years  his  parents  removed 
to  the  Greenbriar  country,  where  he  continued  to  reside  after 
his  father's  death  in  1774.  In  1780  he  and  his  brothers  made 


164         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

NEWS  FROM   THE   DEL  A  WAKES 

[Rev.  David  Zeisberger  to  General  Hand.      3NN8i-84— 
Transcript.] 

CooKiNG,26   Novr.  16,  1777. 
Dr.  SIR — As  Capt.  White  Eyes  is  going  to  the  fort, 

I  will  not  omit  to  acquaint  you  how  matters  are  here 
now  with  us.  Since  my  last  we  have  been  quiet,  £ 
not  any  warriors  have  passed  by  here  except  a  small 
party  of  Mohickons  &  now  8  days  ago,  14  Wyandotts 
&  two  white  men  with  them  who  came  from  Detroit ; 
&  as  much  as  we  know  went  to  Weelunk  [Wheeling], 
John  Montour  being  in  their  company. 

Some  time  ago,  as  we  heard,  50  Frenchmen  came 
over  the  Lake  to  Cuyahoga,  &  gave  the  Delawares  and 
Muncys27  who  live  there  the  tomahawk,  &  desired 


an  exploring  tour  to  Kentucky,  whither  they  removed  in  1785 
and  settled  near  Washington  in  Mason  County.  Captain  Ward 
went  out  in  Logan's  expedition  against  the  Indians  in  1786; 
again  with  Edwards  in  1791  ;  and  on  Kenton's  Paint  Creek 
expedition  of  1793,  when  the  only  person  killed  was  John 
Ward,  brother  of  the  original  Captain  Ward,  who  had  been 
captured  when  three  years  of  age  and  reared  among  the  In 
dians.  In  1794  James  Ward  was  in  Wayne's  campaign.  He 
later  became  a  Presbyterian  elder  in  the  Washington  church, 
under  Rev.  Robert  Wilson.  In  1845  Dr.  Draper  visited  Cap 
tain  Ward  at  his  Kentucky  home,  and  had  a  prolonged  inter 
view  with  him.  Ward  died  Feb.  27th  of  the  next  year. — ED. 

26  A   mistranscription    of    the    Indian   term    for    Coshocton, 
which    the    German    Moravians    spelled    in    several    different 
forms.     It  was  the  chief  town  of  the  Delawares  during  the 
Revolutionary    period.      See    Rev.    Upper    Ohio,    p.    46,    note 
73-— ED. 

27  The  early  Indian  history  of  Cuyahoga  River  is  obscure. 
Some  of  the  Six  Nations  seem  to  have  removed  thither  at  an 
early  date,  and  probably  occupied  the  village  denominated  on 
Evans's  and  Hutchins's  maps  as  "Cuyahoga  Town."     It  would 
seem  likewise  to  have  been  the  site  of  an  Ottawa  village  and 
a   French  trading  house;    and   may   have  been   the   "Riviere 
Blanche,"    so    frequently    mentioned    in    the    reports    of    the 


NEWS  FROM  DELAWARES  165 

them  to  go  with  them  to  Ligonier.28  Capt.  Pipe  not 
being  at  home,  they  consented,  &  40  men  went  with 
the  French,  but  Pipe  met  them  on  the  road,  reproved 
the  French  for  deceiving  his  people  in  his  absence,  & 
told  them  that  they  were  only  servants,  &  had  no 
power  to  hand  the  tomahawk  to  them :  Nobody  could 
force  him  neither  to  take  it — whereupon  the  greater 
part  of  the  Indians  turned  back. 


French  officials,  1742-53.  See  Charles  A.  Hanna,  Wilderness 
Trail  (New  York,  1911),  i,  pp.  315-339.  George  Croghan  had 
a  trading  house  in  the  vicinity  in  1747,  which  seems  to  have 
been  abandoned  by  1750  for  one  on  the  Muskingum.  During 
the  French  and  Indian  War  there  was  an  entire  readjustment 
of  Indian  villages,  but  the  Cuyahoga  town  is  still  shown  on 
later  maps.  It  would  seem,  however,  to  have  been  the  abode 
of  Delawares  rather  than  of  Mingo,  and  the  inference  from 
this  letter  is  that  it  was  the  headquarters  of  Captain  Pipe 
before  his  removal  in  1778  to  the  Sandusky  region.  The  In 
dians  reported  in  the  autumn  of  1777  that  the  British  were 
building  a  storehouse  at  Cuyahoga  to  supply  the  neighboring 
Indians  with  goods;  but  during  the  later  years  of  the  Revo 
lution  the  region  seems  to  have  virtually  been  deserted.  In 
the  late  autumn  of  1782,  Maj.  Isaac  Craig  was  ordered  out 
from  Fort  Pitt  on  a  reconnoissance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cuya 
hoga,  to  discover  if  the  British  were  there  building  a  post. 
He  reported  on  his  return  that  there  was  no  sign  of  occu 
pancy — Washington  Irving  Correspondence,  pp.  137-139; 
Draper  MSS.,  iNNui,  4Sio.  In  1786  the  Moravian  Indians 
lived  for  a  short  time  at  the  old  Ottawa  village,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  stream,  just  north  of  Tinker's  Creek,  in  Independ 
ence  township ;  but  the  following  spring  they  removed  to 
Sandusky  Bay.  The  preceding  year,  by  the  Treaty  of  Fort 
Mclntosh,  the  Cuyahoga  had  been  made  the  dividing  line  be 
tween  white  and  Indian  territory.  With  the  exception  of  an 
occasional  wandering  trader,  this  locality  appears  to  have  been 
unvisited  thereafter  until  the  settlement  (in  1796)  of  the 
Western  Reserve. — ED. 

28  Fort  Ligonier  was  built  during  Forbes's  campaign  in  1758, 
on  the  site  of  a  well-known  Indian  town,  probably  of  Shawnee 
origin,  on  Loyalhanna  Creek,  just  west  of  Laurel  Hill.  While 
the  advance  of  the  army  was  encamped  there,  the  enemy 
attacked  them,  after  having  inflicted  (Sept.  14,  1758)  a  severe 


166         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Capt.  John  Killbuck  &  Pipe  are  gone  to  Detroit— 
upon  what  business  Capt.  White  Eyes  can  tell  you  bet 
ter.  They  did  not  desire  me  to  write  for  them,  so  I 
suppose  they  did  not  approve  of  what  you  proposed 
to  them. 

The  Shawanese — Cornstalk's  people,  perhaps,  will 
move  from  their  place  &  come  to  Cuchachunk  this 
winter.  They  lately  sent  messengers  who  consulted 
with  the  chiefs  here  about  that  matter;  &  as  no  mes 
sengers  from  hence  are  on  their  way  thither,  we  shall 
soon  hear  what  they  are  resolved  to  do. 

Of  the  Mingoes  we  have  heard  nothing  since  the 


defeat  upon  Grant's  skirmish  line  that  had  penetrated  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Fort  Duquesne.  The  attack  upon  Ligonier 
was  repulsed,  and  was  the  last  battle  between  French  and 
British  in  this  section.  A  garrison  was  maintained  at  this 
point  until  after  Pontiac's  War,  when  Fort  Ligonier  was 
besieged,  and  relieved  with  much  difficulty.  About  1765  the 
permanent  garrison  was  withdrawn,  and  in  1766  Capt.  Harry 
Gordon  reported  that  the  fort  was  much  shattered  and  rot 
ting  away.  He  also  mentions  some  inhabitants  clustered 
about  the  fort.  More  would  come,  he  says,  if  right  of  pos 
session  was  secured — Hanna,  Wilderness  Trail,  ii,  p.  40.  In 
1769  a  land-office  was  opened  at  Ligonier  and  settlers  flocked 
in  rapidly.  The  land  on  which  the  fort  stood  was  patented  to 
Gen.  Arthur  St.  Clair.  The  ravages  of  the  Revolution  did  not 
reach  the  Ligonier  Valley  until  the  summer  of  17/7,  when 
Col.  Archibald  Lochry  set  about  establishing  a  stockade  fort 
at  Ligonier,  probably  on  the  site  of  the  former  British  fort. 
This  was  officially  known  as  Fort  Preservation,  but  ordinarily 
received  the  well-known  appellation  of  Fort  Ligonier.  From 
this  date  until  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  Ligonier  Valley 
was  constantly  exposed  to  the  Indian  ravages.  Nov.  7,  1777, 
it  was  reported  that  all  of  the  settlers  had  fled  to  a  distance 
forty-two  miles  from  Ligonier — Frontier  Forts,  ii,  p.  245. 
The  party  to  whom  allusion  is  made  in  this  letter  is  doubtless 
the  one  that  attacked  Fort  Wallace;  see  ante.  Palmer's  Fort, 
in  Ligonier  Valley,  was  likewise  attacked  and  eleven  persons 
killed  and  scalped,  among  whom  was  Ensign  Woods;  Penna. 
Archives,  v,  p.  741. — ED. 


NEWS  FROM  DELAWARES  167 

Half  King29  was  here ;  &  it  seems  as  if  they  were  tired 
of  going  to  war,  or  rather  frightened.  We  heard  that 
after  their  last  retn.  they  went  over  the  Lake  &  asked 
the  Wyandott  Chief's  counsel  &  advice  what  they 
should  do,  because  the  Virginians  would  soon  be  upon 
them.  The  Wyandot  Chief  answered  them,  that  they 
had  begun  the  war,  &  had  always  encouraged  others 
to  go  to  war;  they  had  now  brought  it  to  pass  what 
they  always  had  wished  for;  he  therefore  could  give 
them  no  other  advice  than  to  be  strong  &  fight  as  men. 
Capt.  White  Eyes  intends  to  stay  at  the  fort  two 
or  three  days,  &  wash  you  would  let  him  return  again 
as  soon  as  possible,  for  none  of  the  Counsellors  are  at 
home  to  do  business,  if  any  thing  should  happen;  but 
if  occasion  should  require  to  detain  him  longer,  please 
to  let  the  people  here  know  of  it  that  they  may  not  be 
uneasy  about  him,  for  some  apprehend  because  the 
Cornstalk  is  taken  fast  at  the  Kanhawa,  White  Eyes 
may  be  served  so  too :  If  he  therefore  stays  out  above 
the  time  he  has  appointed  them,  they  will  surely  think 
so.  The  letter  Gen1.  Hand  had  sent  to  me  last,  the 
messenger  lost.  I  suppose  you  will  by  this  time  have 
some  news  from  before — if  you  can  favor  me  with 
any  you  will  much  oblige  Sir,  Your  Hble.  Servfc. 

D.  ZEISBERGER 


29  In  his  Narrative,  pp.  160,  161,  Heckewelder  describes  a 
visit  of  Half  King  (for  whom  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  gi, 
note  14)  to  the  Delaware  towns  in  August,  1777.  The  YVyan- 
dot  having  sent  to  the  Delawares  the  war-belt,  which  the  lat 
ter  had  refused,  next  dispatched  thither  their  head-chief  and 
a  deputation  of  200  warriors.  The  Delawares,  especially  the 
Christian  Moravian  Indians,  were  much  alarmed  at  their 
approach;  but  all  ended  well,  for  the  Half  King  made  a  cov 
enant  with  the  Christian  Indians  and  acknowledged  their 


168         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

NEWS  OF   CORNSTALK'S  MURDER 
REACHES  VIRGINIA 

[Col.  William  Preston  to  Col.  William  Fleming.      2ZZ43— 
A.  L.  S.] 

SMITHFIELD  Decr  2d    1777 
DEAR  SIR — Last  Night  I  rec'd  your  most  obliging 

Favour  of  the  ioth  of  November,  for  which  I  thank 
you.  The  News  it  confirms  is  glorious,  and  Interest 
ing  to  every  Friend  to  the  American  Cause;  and  I 
have  the  greatest  hopes  that  it  will  have  a  happy  Effect 
in  our  Favour,  by  striking  a  Damp  to  our  Enemies 
and  encouraging  our  Friends  both  in  America  and 
Europe.  God  Grant  that  a  proper  and  prudent  use 
may  be  made  of  this  signal  success ;  &  that  the  Ameri 
cans  may  not  relax  in  their  Duty  by  "crying  Peace 
when  there  is  no  Peace ;"  and  thereby  loosing  sight  of 
the  great  Object  they  have  in  View,  in  hopes  that  no 
further  Efforts  will  be  made  by  our  Enemies.  I  wish 
the  dividing  Counties  here,  the  rating  whiskey  &c.  in 
Pennsylvania,  may  not  too  much  engross  the  Atten 
tion  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  States,  while  proper 
Provision  to  cloathe  and  recruit  the  Army  &  lessen  the 
Quantity  of  Currency  in  Circulation  are  neglected.  I 
only  mention  these  Doubts  to  my  Friend,  as  I  am  not 
certain  they  have  any  real  Foundation. 

Parson  Smith30  came  here  last  night,  and  Informs 
that  the  Augusta  Troops  &c.  are  on  their  way  from  the 


chiefs  as  "Fathers".  He  likewise  agreed  to  leave  the  Dela- 
wares  in  peace,  and  permit  them  to  retain  their  much-prized 
neutrality. — ED. 

30  Rev.  Adam  Smyth  (so  he  wrote  the  name)  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  in  1772  served  for  five  months  as  curate  of 
the  Augusta  parish  at  Staunton.  Resigning  from  his  cure, 
he  was  the  following  year  appointed  rector  of  Botetourt  par- 


LOYALIST  TENDENCIES  169 

Point,  after  killing  the  Cornstalk  and  some  other 
Shawnesse  Chiefs  in  cold  Blood.  This  Account  he 
had  by  a  Letter  from  his  Friend  at  that  Place.  I  am 
apprehensive  this  Conduct  will  be  followed  by  very 
bad  consequences  to  the  Frontiers,  by  engaging  us  in 
a  war  with  that  Revengful  &  Warlike  Nation  and  their 
Allies. 

This  County  affords  no  News  worth  your  Notice, 
only  that  Capt.  Burke31  &  his  whole  Company  except 
four  or  five  &  near  forty  of  my  Neighbours  have  Posi 
tively  refused  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  to  the  States.  I 
have  laboured  with  them  untill  I  am  wearied  out  and 
to  no  Purpose ;  and  next  week  I  intend  to  order  them 
to  be  disarmed,  having  given  them  this  week  to  come 
in  and  take  the  Oath,  and  I  have  the  greatest  reason 
to  believe  that  it  will  be  attended  with  much  Trouble 
and  perhaps  Resistance.  The  Ringleaders,  such  as 
Price,  Bane,  Shull  &  the  Heavins,  dont  realize  the 
Punishment  as  the  Law  now  Stands;  and  I  am  con 
vinced  that  they,  and  all  such  will  stand  out  untill  their 
Property  or  Persons  can  be  more  Affected  than  what 
the  Law  subjects  them  to.  The  present  Punishment 


ish.  But  little  is  known  of  his  history.  He  appears  to  have 
been  an  American  sympathizer  during  the  Revolution,  and  in 
1781  applied  for  leave  for  a  visit  to  Ireland.  In  1782  he  was 
again  in  his  parish,  where  the  Virginia  assembly  ordered  an 
accounting  of  the  tithes  due  him  before  the  disestablishment 
of  the  church  in  that  state.  He  was  living  as  late  as  1792. 
His  youngest  son  was  Gen.  Alexander  Smyth,  prominent  in 
early  nineteenth-century  Virginia. — ED. 

31  Capt.  Thomas  Burk  had  for  some  years  been  a  militia 
officer;  see  his  letter  in  Dunmore's  War,  p.  398.  In  1775  he 
accepted  a  commission  from  the  Virginia  committee  of  safety, 
and  served  until  Feb.  18,  1778,  when  he  tendered  his  resigna 
tion ;  see  letter,  post. — ED. 


170         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

is  really  a  matter  of  Divirsion  to  them.  They  bring 
no  Suits,  they  never  Elect,  they  dont  attend  Court ; 
they  can  dispose  of  their  arms  and  they  dont  want  to 
purchase  Land ;  by  these  means  they  entirely  evade  the 
force  of  a  Law,  to  which  I  sincerely  wish  some 
amendments  could  be  made  to  stop  this  growing  Evil.3- 
They  speak  with  Caution  therefore  do  not  come  within 
the  Law  for  punishing  certain  Offences.  In  short  they 
do  as  they  Please. :!:! 

I  would  beg  the  Favour  of  you  to  lay  the  Enclosed 
statement]  before  Mr  Jefferson  and  any  other  of  the 
first  Lawyers  &  take  their  Opinion  in  writing  for 
which  pray  pay  their  Charge  &  I  will  repay  you  with 
Thankfullness.  You  will  readily  Judge  that  it  relates 
to  Col  Pattons  Will/'54  I  am  my  Dr  Sr  your  Sincere 
Wellwisher  &  most  Obed1  Serv1. 

\Ym.  PRESTON 


;!-  Colonel  Preston  is  here  referring  to  the  law  passed  in 
May,  17/7,  entitled,  "An  act  to  oblige  the  free  male  inhabitants 
of  this  state  above  a  certain  age  (sixteen]  to  give  assurance 
of  Allegiance  to  the  same,  and  for  other  purposes."  This 
provided  for  the  taking  of  an  oath  renouncing  all  allegiance 
to  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  and  that  the  county  lieutenant 
shall  disarm  recusants.  It  further  provided  that  all  refusing 
the  oath  shall  "be  incapable  of  holding  any  office  in  this  state, 
serving  on  juries,  suing  for  any  debts,  electing  or  being  elect 
ed,  or  buying  lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments";  Hening, 
Statutes,  ix,  pp.  281-283. — Eu. 

33  The  act  referred  to  was  passed  at  the  October  session  of 
1776,  and  provided  a  fine  of  £20,000  and  an  imprisonment  of 
live  years  for  openly  maintaining  and  defending  the  authority 
of   the  king   or   parliament   of   Great    Britain.     Ibid,   pp.    i/o, 
171. — ED. 

34  Col.  James  Patton  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
Valley    of    Virginia,      lie    was    a    Scotch-Irishman    who    had 
served  in  the  royal  navy,  and  later  owned  a  passenger  vessel 
trading   to   America.      In   connection    with    Benjamin   Borden, 
his  father-in-law,  he  obtained  a  large  grant  for  land  west  of 


DIFFICULTIES  171 

Perhaps  it  would  be  Possible  to  get  two  or  three 
Lawyers  together  &  get  their  Opinion,      all  Expense 
shall  be  paid  as  I  am  very  anxious  in  this  matter. 
Col.  Wm.  Fleming    pr  Favr  of  Cap1  Cloyd. 


HAND  AT  FORT  RANDOLPH 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Col.  William  Fleming. 
Transcript.] 

BOTTETOURT  COUNTY35   DeCr.  3d 

SIR:  I  take  this  opportunity  of  thanking  you  for 
your  readiness  in  granting  me  the  assistance  I  re 
quested  of  you,  &  am  extremely  sorry  that  the  mutual 
exertions  of  your  county  &  Augusta  were  so  badly 
seconded  as  to  put  it  out  of  my  power  to  carry  my 
designs  into  execution  for  the  benefit  of  the  distressed 
frontiers ;  but  hope  that  the  rapid  successes  of  the 
American  arms  to  the  Northward  will  do  more  for  us 
than  we  can  do  for  ourselves.  Should  that  unhappily 
not  be  the  case,  I  have  every  reason  to  expect  that  you 


the  Blue  Ridge,  and  after  1738  was  busily  employed  bringing 
out  families  for  its  settlement.  He  was  a  Presbyterian,  and 
largely  instrumental  in  founding  Tinkling  Spring  Church,  of 
which  Rev.  John  Craig  was  pastor.  In  1742  he  qualified  as 
colonel  of  the  county  militia,  and  in  1745  as  member  of  the 
county  court.  Later  he  was  county  lieutenant,  and  in  the 
early  years  of  the  French  and  Indian  War  was  entrusted  with 
the  defense  of  the  vast  frontiers  of  Augusta  County.  In 
1755>  while  Patton  was  on  a  tour  of  the  Western  country,  he 
stopped  at  Draper's  Meadows  and  was  killed  during  the  mas 
sacre  at  that  place.  He  is  said  to  have  cut  down  two  Indians 
with  a  broadsword,  before  he  was  himself  shot  and  killed 
from  without  the  house.  His  will  was  admitted  to  probate 
at  Staunton  in  November,  1755.  His  nephew,  Col.  William 
Preston,  was  its  chief  executor. — ED. 

35  The  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawha  was  at  this 
time  within  the  limits  of  Botetourt  County. — ED. 


172         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

will  on  a  future  occasion,  show  the  same  readiness  to 
assist  your  neighbours. 

I  ordered  your  troops  under  Col.  Skilron  to  march 
back  from  Fort  Randolph,  and  to  be  discharged  on 
their  return.  Their  number  fell  short  of  your  orders, 
but  beg  that  this  circumstance  may  not  exclude  Major 
Poag  from  his  appointment ;  his  readiness  to  serve  in 
any  capacity  merits  that  mark  of  respect.  I  am,  Sir, 

with  respect,  Your  obed1.  hble  serv1. 

EDwd.  HAND. 

Col.  Wm.  Fleming,    Co.  Lieut,  of  Bottetourt. 


INDIANS  OF   THE   ALLEGHENY 

[Col.    John    Gibson   to    Gen.    George   Washington.       158114 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT.  Decr.  5th,  1/77: 

Gen.  Hand  has  gone  down  the  Ohio  to  regulate  the 
garrisons  in  that  quarter;  Since  he  left  this  place 
(Nov.  loth)  Nothing  Material  has  happened.  Simon 
Girty,36  a  Messenger  dispatched  by  General  Hand  to 


36  In  view  of  his  later  history,  the  employment  of  Simon 
Girty  by  the  military  authorities  at  Pittsburgh  at  this  period, 
is  interesting.  No  doubt  he  was  a  good  spy  and  ranger.  As 
such  he  was  employed  by  Dunmore — see  Dunmorc's  War, 
p.  152,  note  4;  and  again  by  Wood  in  1775 — Rev.  Upper 
Ohio,  pp.  28,  43.  He  was  interpreter  in  1775  at  Fort  Pitt 
(Ibid,  p.  67),  and  in  May,  1776,  was  made  official  interpreter 
for  the  Seneca,  among  whom  he  had  been  a  captive  in  boy 
hood.  This  position  he  retained  only  for  three  months;  but 
afterwards  was  employed  in  enlisting  volunteers,  and  received 
a  commission  as  second-lieutenant  in  the  Continental  army. 
His  conduct  in  the  summer  of  1777  caused  General  Hand  to 
suspect  his  loyalty,  and  for  a  short  time  he  was  under  arrest. 
But  after  examination  before  a  magistrate,  he  was  acquitted 
and  was  sent  by  Hand  on  this  important  mission  to  the  Sen 
eca  towns.  For  Girty's  official  report  of  this  expedition,  made 
to  Col.  George  Morgan,  commissioner  for  Indian  affairs  at 


ALLEGHENY  INDIANS  173 

the  Seneca  towns  on  the  heads  of  the  Alleghany,  re 
turned  here  a  few  days  ago.  he  informs  us  Gu-a- 
sho-ta,37  a  chief  of  them,  had  returned  from  war ;  that 
he  had  killed  four  people  near  Ligonier ;  that  another 
party  returned  and  brought  in  a  white  man  and  three 
scalps  whilest  he  was  in  the  towns ;  that  they  told  him 
all  the  Nations,  excepting  White  Eyes  &  a  few  Dela- 
wares,  would  strike  us  in  the  Spring;  that  they  told 
him  he  Must  go  with  them  to  Niagara  ;38  that  he  made 


Pittsburgh,    see    William    M.    Darlington,    Christopher    Gist's 
Journals  (Pittsburgh,  1893),  pp.  214-216. — ED. 

37  For  a  brief   sketch   of  this   chief   see  Rev.    Upper  Ohio, 
p.  38,  note  65.     This  note  is,  we  find,  erroneous  in  regard  to 
Guyashusta's    attitude    during    the    Revolution.     In    the    first 
years,  the  chief,  like  the  other  Seneca,  was  in  favor  of  neu 
trality.      But    after   the    council    at   Oswego    (1777),   he  was 
pledged  to  the  British  and  went  on  the  Oriskany  expedition. 
His   relative,  Governor  Blacksnake,  told  Dr.   Draper   (4364) 
that  Guyashusta    (Giasodo)    was  not  on  any  other  Revolu 
tionary   campaigns.     This   referred   to   the   war   on   the   New 
York  frontier ;    whereas  Guyashusta  seems  to  have  been  in 
stigated  by  the  officers  at  Niagara  to  attack  the  Pennsylvania 
frontier.     The  raid  which  Girty  reported  was  doubtless  that 
against  Wallace's  Fort.     Guyashusta  also  led  the  Hannastown 
raid  in   1782,  and  throughout  the  Revolution  terrorized  the 
border. — ED. 

38  There    is    still    much   obscurity   concerning   conditions   at 
Niagara  during  the  Revolution.     Frank  H.  Severance,  secre 
tary   of  the   Buffalo   Historical   Society,   has,  however,   made 
two  important  contributions  to  the  subject  in  Old  Trails  on 
the  Niagara  Frontier  (Buffalo,  1899),  pp.  63-103;   and  Buffalo 
Historical     Society    Publications,    ix,    pp.    221-308.       During 
the  period  covered  by  our  volume,  Col.  Mason  Bolton  of  the 
34th  Royal  Artillery  was  commandant-in-chief.     Niagara  was 
the  headquarters  of  the  New  York  Loyalists,  and  thence  par 
ties  issued  to  harry  the  New  York   frontier.     The   Pennsyl 
vania   frontier  was  likewise  exposed  to  the  Indian   allies  of 
the  British.     The  Seneca  made  headquarters  at  Niagara,  and 
in  February,  1778,  Col.  John  Butler  of  the  Queen's  Rangers 
wrote  from  that  place :    "The  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations  & 
those  from  the  westward  have  exerted  themselves  in  laying 


174         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

his  escape  by  going  to  hunt  for  his  horse ;  he  says  the 
news  of  Burgoyne's  Surrender  had  not  reached  there. ;:il 
Gibson  then  speaks  of  having  sent  Capt.  Sullivan40 
down  the  Country  for  clothing  for  the  I3th  Virginia 
regiment,  &  hopes  Gen1  Washington  will  so  direct  as 
to  enable  him  to  return  with  a  supply  as  soon  as  pos 
sible.] 

[JOHN  GIP.SON] 


waste  the  Country  most  exposed  to  them  from  the  east  branch 
of  the  Susquehanna  to  the  Kiskismenitas  Creek  upon  the 
Ohio  &  from  thence  down  to  Kanhawa  River  an  extent  of 
many  hundred  miles  is  now  nothing  but  an  heap  of  ashes 
such  of  those  miserable  people  as  have  escaped  have  taken 
refuge  in  small  forts."  Commandant  Bolton  wrote  Dec.  14, 
1777,  that  he  had  2300  savages  at  Niagara,  who  had  all  re 
ceived  presents — Mich.  Pion.  cV  Hist.  Colls.,  xix,  pp.  335,  342. 
Under  these  circumstances  it  seems  remarkable  that  any  set 
tlements  were  maintained  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains 
during  the  years  of  the  Revolution. — En. 

•">(1  Girty  declared  (in  report  cited  in  ante,  note  36)  that  the 
Seneca  had  not  heard  of  Burgoyne's  surrender,  and  would 
not  believe  his  report  of  this  event.  When  they  reached 
Niagara  they  learned  these  tidings,  for  Colonel  Bolton  wrote 
(Mich.  Pion.  <.'•?  Hist.  Colls.,  xix,  p.  335)  :  "The  accounts  of 
the  unfortunate  affair  that  happened  to  General  Burgoyne's 
Army  reached  this  place  a  considerable  time  before  the  Chiefs 
assembled  here,  which  put  it  out  of  Colonel  Butler's  power 
to  execute  what  was  intended." — En. 

40  As  early  as  1769,  Capt.  James  Sullivan  had  settled  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Monongahela;  and  upon  the  enlistment  of 
the  West  Augusta  or  i3th  Virginia  regiment  (see  Rev.  Upper 
Ohio,  p.  250,  note  94)  was  chosen  one  of  its  captains.  In 
1779  he  served  at  Fort  Mclntosh,  and  the  next  year  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  settling  a  station  not  far  from  Louisville.  In 
Clark's  campaign  of  1780  he  acted  as  master  of  horse,  and 
was  captain  in  the  expedition  of  1782  (Draper  MSS.,  36J4). 
He  was  one  of  the  early  trustees  of  the  town  of  Louisville, 
and  owned  many  lots  therein;  in  1783  the  trustees  met  at  his 
house.  He  was  a  large,  powerful,  and  active  man,  and  prom 
inent  in  the  new  community.  He  died  early  in  the  nineteenth 
century  near  St.  Louis,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  John  C.  Sulli- 


MURDER  OF  CORNSTALK  175 

HAND   REPORTS   CORNSTALK'S   MURDER 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Maj.  Samuel  McDowell.     3NN6;— 

Transcript.] 

CAMP  NEAR  KELLY's41  ON  KANHAWA,  Nov.  [Dec.]  5,  1777 
SIR — As  I  understand  that  a  mare  belonging  to  one 
of  the  Shawanese  Indians  lately  murdered  at  Fort 
Randolph  has  been  sold  at  vendue  by  the  desire  of  the 
soldiers,  &  that  the  money  she  sold  for  is  to  be  paid 
into  your  hands — I  hereby  request  that  you  may  remit 
it  to  Capt.  Mathew  Arbuckle  for  the  benefit  of  the 

representative  of  the  deced.  rT, 

TEowARD  HAND] 


[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Gov.  Patrick  Henry.     3NN6g-7i— 
Transcript.] 

STAUNTON,  9th  Decr.  1777 

SIR — When  I  wrote  your  Excellency  from  Fort  Pitt 
in  Novr.,  I  promised  myself  the  honor  of  addressing 
you  from  Fort  Randolph  before  now,  but  as  I  found 


van.     Another  of  his  sons  was  George  Rogers  Clark  Sulli 
van. — ED. 

41  For  the  location  of  Kelly's,  on  the  Kanawha,  see  Dun- 
snore's  War,  p.  112,  note  82.  Walter  Kelly  emigrated  from 
the  Carolinas  to  the  Greenbriar  settlement  in  1773,  and  against 
the  protests  of  his  friends  made  an  advance  settlement  on 
the  Kanawha  in  the  autumn  of  that  year.  He  was  there  killed 
by  a  marauding  Indian  party,  early  in  1774.  The  place  was 
thereafter  known  as  Kelly's.  Soon  after  the  Battle  of  Point 
Pleasant,  Kelly's  improvement  was  purchased  by  William 
Morris,  likewise  of  Greenbriar,  who  soon  removed  his  family 
thither.  Morris  was  one  of  the  notable  men  of  Kanawha 
Valley  history.  He  was  at  the  Battle  of  Point  Pleasant, 
where  he  was  wounded.  After  settling  at  Kelly's  he  built  a 
fort  and  had  many  a  skirmish  with  the  savages.  In  later  life 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Virginia  assembly  for  Kanawha 
County.  The  Morris  family  had  many  descendants  and  con 
nections  of  note,  among  whom  was  Bishop  Thomas  A.  Morris 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. — ED. 


176         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

this  the  only  rout  by  which  I  could  return  with  pro 
priety  I  deferred  it  until  my  arrival  here.42  Before  I 
left  Fort  Pitt  I  received  a  letter  from  Capt.  Arbuckle 
informing  me  that  he  had  confined  two  Shawanese 
Indians,  suspecting  them  to  be  spies,  &  that  he  ex 
pected  a  number  of  their  chiefs  in  a  short  time  &  was 
determined  to  confine  them  also,  until  he  had  more 
particular  instructions  from  me.  On  my  way  down, 
I  recd.  another  letter  from  him,  a  copy  of  which  is 
inclosed  together  with  a  return  of  the  militia  from 
Augusta  &  Botetourt,  &  the  deposition  of  some  people 
respecting  the  murder  of  four  Shawanese  Indians. 
On  my  arrival  at  Fort  Randolph  the  i8th.  ult0.,  I  was 
much  concerned  to  hear  that  the  Cornstalk,  his  son, 
the  Red  Hawk's  son,  &  another  Indian  had  been  mur 
dered  by  the  militia,  tho'  in  close  confinement  in  the 
garrison,  more  especially  as  the  Cornstalk  appeared  to 
be  the  most  active  of  his  nation  to  promote  peace.  I 
understand  that  Ensign  Gilmore  of  the  Botetourt 
militia  &  two  others  straggled  over  the  Kanhawa  to 
hunt ;  soon  after  they  crossed  the  river  they  took  dif 
ferent  routs,  &  Gilmore  was  killed  &  scalped  within  a 
trifling  distance  of  the  fort.  This  so  enraged  the  men, 
that  a  party  immediately  proceeded  to  the  fort  &  mur- 


42  It  is  an  interesting  commentary  on  means  of  communica 
tion  at  this  period,  that  the  only  practicable  route  from  Fort 
Randolph  to  Fort  Pitt  was  by  way  of  Staunton.  Probably 
General  Hand  followed  the  same  route  as  the  Augusta  troops 
had  taken  going  out;  see  ante,  p.  150,  note  14.  Staunton  was 
the  county  town  for  Augusta,  and  was  settled  by  the  Lewis 
family  in  1732  at  the  Beverly  mill-site.  It  was  surveyed  and 
platted  in  1748,  and  incorporated  in  1761.  The  origin  of  its 
name  is  uncertain ;  possibly  it  was  intended  to  honor  Dr. 
Edmond  Staunton,  an  eminent  English  Presbyterian  preachei 
of  the  seventeenth  centurv. — ED. 


MURDER  OF  CORNSTALK  177 

dered  the  Indian  prisoners,  notwithstanding  Capt11. 
Arbuckle's  endeavors  to  prevent  it.  Both  Capt. 
Arbuckle  &  the  field  officers  of  the  militia — indeed 
every  officer  at  the  Point,  expressed  great  abhorrance 
of  the  deed,  but  unhappily  none  of  the  militia  officers 
were  at  hand,  &  Capt.  Arbuckle  had  not  influence 
enough  to  prevent  it.  It  would  be  vain  for  me  to 
bring  the  perpetrators  of  this  horrid  act  to  justice  at 
that  time,  therefore  must  comfort  myself  with  giving 
your  Exc^.  this  detail,  &  informing  you  that  the  most 
active  of  the  party  are  known  to  Col.  Dickinson,  Col°. 
Skilron  &  many  other  officers.43 

*  *  *  The  number  of  men  now  at  the  Point, 
including  Capt.  Arbuckle's  &  Capt.  McKee's  com 
panies  does  not  exceed  100,  the  strength  of  one  com 
pany.  I  think  they  had  best  be  consolidated,  &  super 
numerary  officers  sent  to  recruit.  Captn.  Arbuckle 
will  wait  on  you  about  the  beginning  of  next  month  to 
settle  some  public  accounts,  &  know  your  pleasure  on 
this  head. 

I  ordered  150  men  from  Yohogana  County,  & 
same  number  from  Monongalia,  to  be  stationed  on  the 
frontiers  for  their  defence.  I  detained  100  men  from 
the  militia  of  Frederick,  Berkley,  Dunmore  and 
Loudon  Counties,  to  remain  in  Ohio,  and  to  be  joined 
by  50  men  from  that  county. 

[EDWARD  HAND] 


43  April  13,  1778,  Capt.  James  Hall  was  brought  to  trial  in 
the  Rockbridge  County  court  for  the  "murder  of  the  Corn 
stalk  Indian,  his  son  and  two  other  chiefs  of  the  Indians  on 
the  loth  of  November  last."  Hall  appeared  and  denied  the 
charge.  The  trial  adjourned  until  April  28,  when  no  witness 
appearing  against  him,  he  was  acquitted.  Three  other  militia- 

12 


178         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

TEMPEll   OF   WKSTK11N    INDIANS 

[Col.  John  Gibson  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      iUi32 — A.  L.  S.J 

FORT  PITT   Decr  ioth    1777 

DEAR  SIR — A  few  days  after  you  set  of  from  this 
place  for  Kanhawa,  James  Kelly44  and  Thos.  Nicholson 
the  Messengers,  who  were  sent  by  you  with  Des 
patches  to  the  Delawares  returned  they  informed  me 
that  they  went  to  a  Small  town  of  the  Delawares  on 
Beaver  Creek,45  where  they  were  kindly  received  by 
the  Indians,  that  on  their  Acquainting  them  with  their 
Business,  and  desiring  some  of  them  to  Accompany 
them,  the  Chief  told  them  it  would  not  be  Safe  for 


men — Hugh  Galbraith,  Malcolm  McCovvn,  and  William 
Rowan — were  tried  in  like  manner  and  acquitted  for  lack  of 
witnesses.  See  "Rockbridge  County  Records,''  in  Virginia 
Historical  Magazine,  xvii,  pp.  324,  325. — ED. 

44  A  family  of  Scotch-Irish  Protestant  Kellys  lived  in  Lan 
caster  County.  Their  founder  was  John,  who  emigrated  to 
America  before  1730,  and  became  a  well-known  Indian  trader. 
One  son  was  Maj.  John  Kelly,  who  served  in  the  Pennsyl 
vania  line  of  the  Revolutionary  army.  There  was  likewise  a 
son  James,  who  may  have  been  this  messenger  to  the  Dela 
ware  towns.  He  was  born  in  1749,  married  Elizabeth  Forster, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Derry  churchyard  in  the  present 
Dauphin  County,  Pa. — En. 

4r>  There  were  several  Indian  towns  on  Beaver  Creek  and 
its  branches.  The  most  famous  was  Kuskuskies — probably  a 
group  of  three  or  four  contiguous  towns,  built  originally  by 
the  Six  Nations,  but  later  occupied  by  the  Delawares.  These 
towns  were  near  the  forks  of  the  Beaver  and  along  the 
Mahoning,  its  western  branch.  Salt  Lick  town,  near  the  pres 
ent  Niles,  Ohio,  was  a  well-known  locality;  but  the  town 
here  noticed  was  probably  the  one  known  as  Mahoning.  Most 
of  the  Delawares  had  before  this  period  removed  to  the  Tus- 
carawas  and  Muskingum,  but  a  small  town  seems  to  have 
been  maintained  at  Mahoning,  probably  about  the  site  of  the 
present  Newton  Falls  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio :  this  was 
on  an  important  trail  to  the  West.  See  A.  B.  Hulbert,  "Indian 
Thoroughfares  of  Ohio,"  in  Ohio  Archreological  and  His 
torical  Society  Publications,  viii,  p.  270. — En. 


ENEMY  INDIANS  179 

them  to  proceed  any  further,  as  they  might  fall  in  with 
the  Enemy  Indians,  he  told  them  he  would  take  the 
Messages  himself  and  goe  with  them  to  Gyahoga,  and 
from  thence  to  Cooshachkung.41'  he  Gave  them  a 
String  of  Wampum  as  a  Token  of  their  holding  fast 
the  Chain  of  friendship. 

Simon  Girty  another  Messenger  who  was  also  sent 
by  you  with  Messages  to  the  Seneca  towns  on  the 
Heads  of  the  Allegheney,  Returned  and  Informed  me, 
that  he  went  to  the  towns  without  meeting  any  In 
dians,  tho  by  the  Marks  of  the  Warriors  on  the  Roads 
he  could  Discover  they  had  Been  at  \Var,  that  on  his 
arrival  there  he  acquainted  them  with  the  Success  of 
our  Army  to  Northward  and  Asked  them  if  they  had 
not  heard  of  it.  they  Replied  they  had  not.  he  then 
told  them  they  might  depend  on  it  for  truth,  and  de 
sired  them  to  sit  still  as  they  would  hear  it  in  a  few 
days  from  their  own  people,  they  then  told  him  they 
looked  upon  him  as  a  Spy,  and  that  they  would  take 
him  to  Niagara  they  informed  him  that  all  the  West 
ern  Nations  had  taken  up  the  Tomhawk  against  the 
Americans  Excepting  White  Eyes  and  a  few  Dela- 
wares  and  that  they  would  be  Ready  to  Strike  in  the 
Spring.  he  Learned  that  Seven  parties  were  then 
actually  out  against  our  frontiers,  that  Guashota  had 
Been  twice  at  war  against  our  Settlements,  that  he  had 
killed  four  people  near  Ligonier,  that  the  White 


46  This  would  be  the  natural  order  of  the  route  from  Ma- 
honing,  which  was  nearer  Cuyahoga  than  Coshocton,  and  on 
the  direct  trail  toward  the  former — probably  to  the  town  of 
Captain  Pipe,  mentioned  ante,  p.  165.— ED. 


180         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Mingoe47  had  also  Been  at  War,  that  the  flying  Crow48 
Brought  in  a  White  Woman  Daughter  of  Dudley 
Dougherty  who  was  taken  near  Ligonier,  whilst  he 
was  there  and  some  scalps,49  that  All  face  the  head 
Warrior50  was  out  with  a  party  of  25  five  [sic]  Men. 
that  the  Evening  Before  they  were  to  set  of[f]  for 
Niagara  he  pretended  to  hunt  his  horse,  and  after 
going  out  he  Returned  in  a  Great  hurry  saying  he  saw 
a  flock  of  Turkeys  and  snatched  up  his  Gun  and  Came 


47  This  chief  is  noted  in  Rev.   Upper  Ohio,  p.  27,  note  53. 
It  is  apparent  from  this  document  that  he  did  not  die  before 
1777.      Governor    Blacksnake    stated   to    Dr.    Draper    (4867) 
that  he  had  no  knowledge  of  the  White  Mingo  having  had 
part  in  the  Revolution,  and  therefore  supposed  he  must  have 
died  before  this  date.     Blacksnake  appears  to  have  been  well 
informed  regarding  operations  against  the  New  York   fron 
tier,  but  not  of  those  ravages  in  Pennsylvania  for  which  the 
Allegheny   Seneca  were   responsible.     The  date  of  the  death 
of  White  Mingo  is  uncertain.     The  map  republished  as  fron 
tispiece  in  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  seems  to  have  been  made  from 
information  secured  on  a  trip  down  the  Ohio  in  1794.     The 
"Mungo  blanc"  who  gave  that  information  was  doubtless  the 
White  Mingo.     One  of  that  name  is  said  to  have  died  on  the 
site  of   Fort   Wayne   in    1790;     see  Louise   W.    Murray,    Old 
Tioga  Point  (Athens,  Pa.,  1908),  p.  109. — ED. 

48  For  this  chief  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  passim.     He  was  in 
attendance  at  the  treaty  of  1775. — ED. 

49  A   contemporary  journal   written   at   Ligonier    (see  ante, 
p.   147,  note  10)   has  this  entry  for  Nov.  2 :     "About  3  miles 
from  Richardsons    [which  was  three   from  Ligonier]   2  men 
were  killd  &  Scalp'd  &  a  Woman  missing.     24  of  our  Men 
turn'd  out  and  bury'd  Richardson."     There  was  a  Dougherty 
family  captive  at  Niagara,  apparently  in  1780;    but  probably 
was    not    connected    with    the    person    here    mentioned.     See 
Severance's    list    of    captives    in    Buffalo    Hist.     Colls.,    ix, 
p.  250. — ED. 

50  This  chief  has  not  been  identified.     He  may  be  the  same 
as  Hodowndaoga,  head  chief  of  the  Conowango  village.     At 
the  time  of  Brodhead's  expedition   (1779),  this  chief  and  his 
people   abandoned    their   village   on   the   site   of   Warren,    Pa. 
Later  he  settled  on  the  Catteraugus,  where  he  lived  to  be  an 
old  man,  dying  early  in  the  nineteenth  century. — ED. 


GIRTY'S  REPORT  181 

away,  that  in  the  night  he  came  to  another  town  on 
the  River  where  he  got  a  Canoe  and  Came  by  Water, 
that  near  the  Kittanning  Early  in  the  Morning  an  In 
dian  from  the  Shore  haled  him  and  asked  him  who  he 
was,  that  he  told  him  his  name  was  a  Chiefs  name 
who  he  left  in  the  towns,  that  the  Indian  told  him 
he  Lyed  that  he  knew  him  to  be  Girty  and  desired  him 
to  come  ashore,  that  on  his  Refusal  he  fired  several 
shot  at  him. 

He  Girty  says  that  he  thinks,  they  will  wait  to  hear 
from  the  Northward  as  they  are  guided  by  a  Chief  of 
the  Senecas  there,  and  that  the  Surrender  of  Bur- 
goynes  Army  will  have  a  Good  Effect  on  them  I  am 
Dear  Sir  with  Respect  your  most  Obedient  humble 

JN°.  GIBSON 
To  Brigadier  Genl  Hand 


THE   KENTUCKY   SETTLEMENTS 

[Col.  John  Bowman  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     3NNi92-ip6 — 
Transcript.] 

HARRODSBURG,  December  12th   1777 

SIR — We   received   yours   by    Mr.   John   Haggin,51 
dated  Fort  Randolph,  19th.  November,  1777.      Which 


51  Capt.  John  Haggin  was  born  in  1753  near  Winchester,  Va. 
In  early  life  he  removed  to  western  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
married  and  served  on  Dunmore's  campaign  of  1774.  He  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Kentucky,  coming  out  in  the 
spring  of  1775  with  his  wife's  uncle,  Col.  John  Hinkston.  The 
next  year  he  brought  out  his  family  and  built  a  cabin  on 
Hinkston's  fork  of  Licking;  but  because  of  Indian  hostilities 
he  removed  that  summer  to  McClelland's  Station,  on  the  site 
of  the  modern  Georgetown.  Haggin  was  at  McClelland's 
when  George  Rogers  Clark  arrived  at  Limestone  (Maysville) 
with  gunpowder  for  the  Kentucky  settlements,  and  was  one 


182         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

news  gives  great  satisfaction  to  the  poor  Kentucky 
people,  who  have  these  twelve  months  past  been  con 
fined  to  three  forts,  on  which  the  Indians  made  several 
fruitless  attempts.52  They  have  left  us  almost  with 
out  horses  sufficient  to  supply  the  stations,  as  we  are 
obliged  to  get  all  our  provisions  out  of  the  woods.53 


of  the  party  who  helped  to  carry  it  in  to  Harrodsburg, 
About  that  time  (Jan.,  1777),  McClelland's  Station  was 
broken  up,  and  the  Haggins  removed  to  Harrodsburg. 
There  he  had  numerous  adventures  with  Indians,  was  closely 
pursued,  and  at  one  time  he  was  supposed  for  over  two  weeks 
to  have  been  killed  or  captured.  But  later  he  walked  into  his 
cabin  quite  unconcerned,  greeting  his  wife  with,  "How  are 
you  by  this  time,  Nancy?"  In  May,  1777,  Haggin  was  sent 
express  to  Fort  Pitt,  where  it  was  understood  that  an  Indian 
treaty  was  to  be  held.  The  Kentuckians  had  wished  to  have 
a  representative  at  this  affair  to  recover  their  stolen  horses 
and  obtain  what  reparation  was  possible.  The  treaty,  as  we 
have  seen,  did  not  take  place,  but  Haggin  would  appear  to 
have  spent  the  summer  in  the  neighborhood,  and  to  have 
been,  at  the  time  of  this  letter,  on  his  return  to  Harrodsburg. 
In  1778  he  joined  Clark's  expedition  for  Kaskaskia,  and  the 
following  year  was  in  Bowman's  campaign.  In  1780  he  settled 
Haggin's  Station,  not  far  from  Harrodsburg,  and  there  be 
came  a  planter  and  landholder.  His  wife  died  June  15,  1821, 
and  he  March  j,  1825.  For  these  dates  our  thanks  are  due 
to  James  B.  Haggin  of  New  York,  a  grandson  of  the  Ken 
tucky  pioneer. — ED. 

52  On  the  situation  in  Kentucky  see  ante,  p.   103,  note  63; 
also  Rev.   Upper  Ohio,  p.  205,   note  47,  and  p.  242,  note  85. 
The    three     forts    were    Boonesborough,    Harrodsburg,    and 
St.  Asaph   (or  Logan's)    Station.     All  these  were  founded  in 
1775.     Logan  abandoned  his  station  during  1776  and  retreated 
to  Harrodsburg.     During  March,  1777,  he  returned  to  his  old 
location,  near  the  present  Standford,  Ky.,  and  rebuilt  his  fort, 
which   he  occupied   with   his   own   and  a   few  other   families. 
Twice  during  the  summer  of   1777  Logan  had   sought  relief 
from  the  Holston   settlements,   for  his  beleaguered  garrison. 
After  September  the  raids  of  the  savages  appear  to  have  been 
diverted  to  the  Fort  Pitt  neighborhood,  and  the  Kentuckians 
enjoyed  a  comparative  immunity. — ED. 

53  James  Ray,  one  of  the  Harrodsburg  defenders,  had  one 
old  horse  left  out  of  a  drove  of  forty  that  he  and  his  step- 


KENTUCKY  GARRISONS  183 

Our  corn  the  Indians  have  burned  all  they  could  find 
the  past  summer,  as  it  was  in  cribs  at  different  planta 
tions  some  distance  from  the  garrisons,  &  no  horses 
to  bring  it  in  on.  At  this  time  we  have  not  more  than 
two  months  bread, — near  200  women  &  children;54 
not  able  to  send  them  to  the  inhabitants;  many  of 
those  families  are  left  desolate,  widows  with  small 
children  destitute  of  necessary  clothing. 

Necessity  has  obliged  many  of  our  young  men  to  go 
to  the  Monongohale  for  clothing  (their  former  place 
of  abode),  intended  to  join  their  respective  companies 
as  soon  as  possible,  as  there  will  be  a  sufficient  guard, 
I  think  proper  to  order  some  corn  to  this  place  for  our 
support :  we  intend  to  keep  possession  and  plant  crops 
the  ensuing  spring,  as  we  have  no  other  place  to  expect 
relief  from.  If  we  are  denied  this  request  we  must 
do  without  bread,  till  we  can  get  it  from  what  we  in 
tend  to  plant. 

I  find  it  difficult  to  keep  the  garrisons  plenty  in  meat, 
&  if  we  have  no  bread  we  must  at  any  rate  suffer.  I 
am,  Sir,  with  due  respect,  Your  humb.  Servt, 

JOHN  BowMAN55 

Genl.  Hand,    F1.  Pitt     Favored  by  Lieut.  Linn.56 


father  Hugh  McGary  brought  to  Kentucky.  In  later  life,  Ray 
related  that  he  would  steal  out  from  the  Harrodsburg  fort 
before  daylight  and  hasten  to  the  woods  as  hunter  for  the 
garrison,  returning  after  dark  with  a  horseload  of  game  for 
food;  Draper  MSS.,  46118.— ED. 

54  A   census  taken   May   I,    1777,   reported   the   presence   of 
201   persons  at   Harrodsburg,   about   fifty  at    Boonesborough, 
and  thirty  at  Logan's  Station ;    Ibid,  p.  125. — ED. 

55  For  a  sketch  of  this  pioneer  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  170, 
note  94. — ED. 

56  Lieut.    Benjamin    Linn    was    a    younger   brother    of    Col. 
William  Linn.     Being  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1738,  Benjamin 


134         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

LOYALISTS  AT  FORT  PITT 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  a  committee  of  Congress.    3NN85-88 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  2iyt.  Decr.  1777. 

GENT". — Before  the  arrival  of  your  favor  of  the 
24th.  Octr.  I  had  gone  from  this  place  to  Fort  Ran 
dolph,  from  whence  I  did  not  return  till  yesterday, 
which  prevented  my  complying  with  your  order 
sooner. 

The  report  of  Col.  George  Morgan's  being  arrested 
here  was  well  founded.  The  express  (a  militia  offi 
cer)  who  brought  the  enclosed  letter  from  Col.  Zach : 
Morgan  informed  some  of  his  acquaintance  in  town 
that  the  principal  people  here  concerned  in  the 
conspiracy,  were  Col.  George  Morgan,  Col.  John 


lived  during  early  life  in  western  Maryland.  In  1769  he  re 
moved  with  his  brother  to  the  Monongahela  and  devoted  most 
of  his  time  to  hunting.  Before  hostilities  broke  out  he  had 
lived  much  with  the  Indians.  Early  in  1776  he  went  out  to 
Kentucky  and  formed  part  of  the  Harrodsburg  garrison,  aid 
ing  in  removing  the  powder  thither  (Jan.,  1777),  and  distin 
guishing  himself  for  bravery  in  the  attack  of  March  7,  1777. 
When  the  militia  was  organized  for  Kentucky  County,  in  the 
spring  of  the  same  year,  he  was  chosen  lieutenant.  In  April 
he  was,  with  one  other  companion,  sent  by  George  Rogers 
Clark  to  discover  the  situation  at  Kaskaskia,  in  the  Illinois. 
Here  he  narrowly  escaped  detection  as  a  spy,  and  at  the  insti 
gation  of  an  American  friend,  retired  in  haste.  A  contem 
porary  letter  indicates  that  this  was  not  Linn's  first  visit  to 
Illinois — "Kaskaskia  Papers,"  in  Illinois  Hist.  Colls.,  v.  p.  8. 
After  Linn's  return  to  Harrodsburg  he  married  (July  9,  1777) 
Hannah  Sovereigns.  Linn  did  not  go  out  with  Clark  on  his 
Kaskaskia  or  Vincennes  expeditions,  but  with  several  men 
joined  him  at  the  latter  place  in  July,  1779.  In  1782  he  found 
ed  the  first  church  in  the  Green  River  country,  and  the  second 
Baptist  church  in  Kentucky.  Three  years  later  he  settled  in 
Larue  County,  and  became  a  Baptist  minister  of  note.  His 
death  occurred  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  John 
Chisholm,  at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  Dec.  23,  1814. — ED. 


LOYALISTS  185 

Campbell,  Capt.  Alexr.  McKee,  &  Simon  Girty— & 
that  the  reason  they  were  not  pointed  out  in  the  letter 
was,  that  I  was  myself  suspected.  From  this  informa 
tion  I  judged  it  prudent  to  secure  these  persons  to  pre 
vent  their  escaping  the  punishment  they  deserved,  if 
guilty,  &  to  repair  myself  to  where  Col.  Zack :  Morgan 
was,  to  sift  the  affair  to  the  bottom.  Col°.  Campbell 
before  he  had  learned  my  intention  of  arresting  him, 
waited  on  me  &  desired  permission  to  accompany  me, 
which  I  assented  to;  &  told  Col.  Geo:  Morgan  he 
might  have  the  same  liberty,  which  he  declined,  being 
then,  he  said,  very  busy — &  remained  a  prisoner  in  his 
own  house.  Capt.  McKee  was  sent  for  to  his  farm 
house  &  confined  in  the  same  place ;  &  Simon  Girty  to 
the  common  guard-house.  I  was  present  at  the  exam 
ination  of  the  greatest  number  of  the  prisoners,  & 
heard  from  the  Magistrates  who  examined  the  whole, 
that  no  more  than  one  man  mentioned  Col.  Morgan's 
name ;  his  expression  was,  that  he  allowed  him  to  be 
of  their  party ;  &  some  few  of  them  mentioned  Girty's 
name — but  none  of  them  either  Col.  Campbell's  or 
Capt.  McKee's.  For  this  reason  on  my  return  I  took 
off  Col.  Morgan's  arrest.  Simon  Girty  was  exam 
ined  before  a  civil  magistrate  &  acquitted;  &  Capt. 
McKee  I  put  on  a  new  parole,  after  obtaining  the  old 
one  from  the  Coiy.  Co'1.  :57  His  parole  I  have  en- 


57  "Minute  Book  of  the  Virginia  Court  held  for  Yohogania 
County,"  published  in  Carnegie  Museum  Annals,  ii,  p.  106, 
contains  the  following  entry  under  date  of  Sept.  23,  1777 : 
"A  letter  from  General  Hand  addressed  to  Col.  Campbell 
[re] questing  that  Capt.  Alexander  McKee's  Parole  given  to 
the  Committee  of  West  Augusta  be  given  up  to  him,  the  said 
General  Hand,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  put  Capt.  McKee 


186         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

closed  to  the  Board  of  War  &  wait  the  direction  of 
Congress  as  to  his  future  residence. 

The  remarks  made  in  the  enclosed  letter  by  Capt. 
Arbuckle  on  McKee's  conduct,  tho'  coming  (in  my 
opinion)  from  a  bad  author,  knowing  her  to  have  an 
implacable  hatred  to  the  woman  who  lived  with 
McKee,  may  yet  have  some  weight  with  Congress. 
The  same  person1"'8  was  at  Fort  Randolph  when  I  left 
it  the  2  Ist.  ultimo — she  assured  me  that  McKee  had 
written  letters  to  Detroit.  I  mention  these  circum 
stances  to  your  Honble.  Committee,  as  I  think  them 
applicable  to  the  present  subject,  &  by  that  you  may 
also  communicate  them  to  Congress. 

Col.  George  Morgan  left  this  place  in  a  few  days 
after  my  first  arrival  here,  £  did  not  return  until 
about  the  25th.  of  July — he  staid  until  the  beginning  of 
October,  since  when  he  has  been  absent.  I  recollect 
that  the  day  after  he  arrived  here  in  July,  he  told  me 
he  would  cross  the  river  to  talk  with  the  Indians  then 
waiting  to  see  him,  &  probably  not  return  that  night. 
As  I  had  confined  the  day  or  two  before  two  Indians, 
I  judged  it  unsafe,  and  advised  him  against  it ;  but  he 
still  persisted — early  next  morning  I  understood  he 
lay  at  Capt.  McKee's;  on  his  return,  told  him  what  I 
had  heard — he  said  it  was  so,  &  that  he  had  a  confer 
ence  with  the  Shawanese  Indians;  who  was  his  inter- 


on  a  New  Parole,  as  he  finds  it  necessary  to  remove  said 
Alexander  McKee.  Ordered  that  the  said  Parole  be  given 
up  to  General  Hand  and  that  he  deposit  a  Copy  of  the  New 
Parole  to  be  taken  from  the  said  Capt.  McKee  in  lieu  thereof, 
Certified  by  the  said  General  Hand." — ED. 

58  Without  doubt  a  reference  to  the  Grenadier  Squaw,  see 
ante,  p.  26,  note  57. — ED. 


LOYALISTS  187 

preter  I  don't  know,  certain  it  is,  he  can't  discourse 
in  that  or  any  other  Indian  language.  Except  this  part 
of  his  conduct  may  be  found  exceptionable,  I  must 
declare  in  justice  to  him  that  every  proceeding  of  his 
that  came  to  my  knowledge,  either  as  Indian  Agent  or 
Corny,  appeared  to  me  to  be  that  of  a  zealous  &  faith 
ful  servant  to  the  United  States.  I  should  have  made 
early  mention  of  his  arrest,  but  as  it  was  on  a  ground 
less  assertion,  I  wished  to  have  it  buried  in  oblivion. 
I  am,  gent".,  with  much  respect  Yr.  most  obed1.  hble. 

serv1. 

EDwd.  HAND 

To   The   Honble   Richd.    Henry   Lee,   Richd.  Law,   and   Dan1. 
Roberdeau,  Esqrs.59 


59  Oct.  22,  1777,  Congress  having  heard  that  Col.  George 
Morgan  was  unfriendly  to  the  American  cause,  appointed  a 
committee  composed  of  the  three  men  here  mentioned  to  in 
vestigate  the  report — Journals  of  Congress  (new  ed.),  ix, 
p.  831.  In  November  following,  the  case  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  commissioners  for  the  Western  frontier,  who 
on  April  7,  1778,  fully  acquitted  Morgan  and  restored  to  him 
all  his  honors,  offices,  etc.  The  letter  here  published  was 
Hand's  reply  to  the  inquiry  of  the  first  committee. 

Richard  Henry  Lee  (1732-94)  was  one  of  the  most  promi 
nent  of  the  Virginia  patriots,  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress  from  its  inception,  president  thereof  in  1784,  and 
the  first  senator  from  his  state. 

Richard  Law  (1733-1806)  was  a  Connecticut  patriot,  son  of 
a  colonial  governor,  a  graduate  of  Yale,  and  long  a  member 
of  the  Continental  Congress.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  repute, 
chief  justice  of  his  state,  and  after  1789  the  federal  judge  for 
his  district. 

Daniel  Roberdeau  (1727-95)  was  a  Philadelphia  merchant, 
and  was  of  great  service  to  the  Revolutionary  cause. — ED. 


188         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

ALLEGHENY  INDIANS  AT  WAR 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Col.  George  Morgan.     3NN8Q — 
Transcript] 

FORT  PITT,  24th.  Decr.  1777 

Dr.  SIR — As  I  communicated  your  first  relation  of 
Gen1.  Burgoyne's  defeat  to  the  Delawares,  &  as  the 
last  is  no  more  than  a  repetition,  I  don't  think  it  neces 
sary  to  repeat  the  expense.  Indeed  I  don't  think  it 
advisable  to  send  any  person  among  them  at  present, 
not  knowing  what  effect  the  death  of  Cornstalk,  who, 
with  his  son,  the  Red  Hawk's  son,  &  another  Indian, 
being  prisoners,  were  [killed]  at  Kanhawa  the  ioth. 
ult°.  Kayashuta,  the  White  Mingo,  All-Face,  the 
Flying  Crow,  &c  have  been  lately  at  war. 

EDwd.  HAND 
Col.  Geo :  Morgan 


HAND  RETURNS  TO  FORT  PITT 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.  in  New  York 
Public  Library;    Hand  Papers — A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  24th.  Decr.  1777 

Dr.  YEATES— Your  favrs.  of  the  23d.  &  3ist.  Octr. 
1777  I  have  recd.  and  thank  you  heartily  for  the  good 
news  you  Communicate,  &  am  More  happy  that  the 
domestic  Accts.  you  are  likely  to  give  me  next  will  be 
still  better. 

hope  the  Political  [situation]  will  also  mend — Jessy 
can  give  you  the  Particulars  of  Our  late  Ramble,  &  of 
the  Murder  of  Cornstalk,  his  son,  &  two  other  Shawa- 
nese  Indians  at  Fort  Randolph,  if  we  had  anything 
to  expect  from  that  Nation  it  is  now  Vanished,  the 
Senecas  have  been  often  at  war  this  fall.  Bedford  & 
Westmoreland  have  been  the  Scenes  of  Action. 


HAND  SEEKS  RECALL  189 

I  am  so  heartily  tired  of  this  place  that  I  have  peti 
tioned    Congress    to    be    recal'd.      hope    it    may    be 

Granted  me. 

******** 

Farewell  Dr.  Yeates  yr.  Affectionate  Kinsm[a]n 

Eowd:  HAND 
Jasper  Yeates  Esqr. 

Kayashutas  the  White   Mingo,  Allface,   &  all  the 
Seneca  Chiefs  have  been  repeatedly  at  War 


[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  the  Secretary  of  War.    3^89-94— 
Transcript] 

FORT  PITT,  24th.  Decr.  1777 

SIR — Wrhen  I  wrote  you  last,  I  acquainted  you  of 
my  intention  of  visiting  Fort  Randolph.  You  will  find 
by  the  enclosed  letters  from  Capt.  Arbuckle  that 
before  my  arrival  there  he  had  confined  some  Shawa- 
nese  Indians,  &  his  reasons  for  so  doing.  On  the  iolh. 
ult0.,  the  day  I  left  this  post  to  go  to  Kanawha,  three 
men,  one  of  them  an  ensign  of  the  Bottetourt  Militia, 
straggled  over  the  Kanawha  to  hunt.  The  Ensign  was 
killed  &  scalped  within  a  small  distance  of  the  fort, 
which  exasperated  the  militia  to  such  a  degree  that  a 
party  of  them  rushed  into  the  fort,  &  put  the  Corn 
stalk,  his  son,  the  Red  Hawk's  son,  &  another  Indian 
to  death,  notwithstanding  Capt.  Arbuckle's  endeavors 
to  prevent  it.  From  this  event  we  have  little  reason 
to  expect  a  reconciliation  with  the  Shawanese,  except 
fear  operates  on  them ;  for  if  we  had  any  friends 
among  them,  those  unfortunate  wretches  were  so. 
Though  from  information  brought  me  from  the 
Seneca  country,  which  Lt.  Col.  Gibson  has  already 


190         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

communicated  to  you,  we  have  little  reason  to  expect 
that  will  be  the  case.     *     *     * 

Col.  Wm.  Crawford  has  arrived.60  I  hope  his  activ 
ity  and  influence  will  have  a  very  good  effect.  If 
Major  John  Stephenson61  could  have  any  appointment 
worth  his  acceptance,  I  think  he  also  would  be  a  valu- 


60  For  a  biographical  sketch  of  Col.  William  Crawford  see 
Dunmore's    War,   p.    103,    note    48;     his    early    Revolutionary 
service  is  sketched  in  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  250,  note  94.    After 
joining    the    Continental    army    in    August,    1777,    Crawford 
served   with   efficiency,   commanding  a   detachment   of   scouts 
and  skirmishing  with  the  British  under  Howe.     November  20, 
Congress  resolved  "that  General  Washington  be  requested  to 
send  Col.   William   Crawford  to   Pittsburg  to  take  command 
under  Brigadier  General  Hand  of  the  Continental  troops  and 
militia  of  the  Western   department."     In  this   way   Crawford 
lost  his  place  and  rank  in  the   Continental   line,   and   it  was 
never  restored  to  him.     He  seems  to  have  spent  part  of  the 
winter  of  17/7-78  at  his  own  home  on  the  Youghiogheny.     In 
March  and  April  he  was  present  at  Yohogania  County  court, 
acting    as    magistrate    and    commissioner    to    lay    out    prison 
bounds.     His  subsequent  career  will  be  outlined  in  later  docu 
ments  in  this  volume. — ED. 

61  Maj.  John  Stephenson  was  a  half-brother  of  Col.  William 
Crawford,  and  was  born  in  Virginia  about  1737.     He  was  out 
in  the  French  and   Indian  War,  and  about   1768  removed  to 
the  West,  settling  on  Jacob's  Creek,  in  Fayette  County.    There 
in   1770  he  was  visited  by  Washington,  who  was  then  return 
ing  from  viewing  Western   lands.      In   1774  Stephenson  com 
manded  a  company  under   Dunmore,   and   was   active   on  the 
Virginia    side    during    the    troubles    between    that    state    and 
Pennsylvania.      In    1775    Stephenson    enlisted    a    company    for 
the  colonial  cause,  and  joined  Col.  Peter  Muhlenberg  as  cap 
tain  in  the  8th  Virginia ;   this  regiment  saw  service  at  Charles 
ton  and  Savannah.     In  the  summer  of  1777  Stephenson  con 
tracted  disease,  and  returned  home  that  autumn.     He  did  not 
again  enter  the  Continental  army,  but   served  as  a  volunteer 
on  Hand's  campaign   (1778),  and  that  of  Mclntosh  (1778-79). 
About  1790  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  lived  and  died 
on  the   South   fork  of  the   Licking,  leaving  no  children.     He 
was  a  large,  active  man,  brave,  kind,  and  popular.     For  Sam 
uel    Murphy's    reminiscences    of    Stephenson,    with    whom    he 
lived,  see  Draper  MSS.,  3Si-io,  5Si-9. — ED. 


HAND  SEEKS  RECALL  191 

able  acquisition.  1  wish  much  to  be  permitted  to  lay 
my  proceedings  here  before  Congress.  I  assure  you 
that  I  have  fully  exerted  my  poor  abilities  to  accom 
plish  the  end  for  whch  I  was  ordered  here,  yet  am 
sorry  to  say  that  little  advantage  has  arisen  from  it ; 
&  unless  some  other  measures  can  be  fallen  on,  I  have 
little  reason  to  promise  myself  better  success  for  the 
time  to  come. 

I  think  that  as  it  is  now  winter,  &  Col.  Crawford 
present,  my  absence  for  some  time  would  not  be  at 
tended  with  inconvenience.  If  Congress  have  no  par 
ticular  objection,  would  esteem  it  as  a  most  singular 
indulgence  to  be  recalled  &  suffered  to  join  the  grand 
army,  with  them  to  share  the  honors  &  fatigues  of  the 
field.  Indeed,  unless  our  affairs  will  admit  of  the 
assistance  of  a  regular  force,  I  had  rather  resign  my 
office  than  continue  here  in  command  of  militia. 

Capt.  Willing62  had  arrived  here  a  few  days  before 
my  return  from  Fort  Randolph.  I  have  in  the  best 


62  Capt.  James  Willing,  youngest  son  of  Charles  and  his 
wife  Anne  Shippen  Willing,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  Feb.  9, 
1751.  The  Willing  family  were  prominent  in  colonial  affairs, 
and  James's  oldest  brother,  Thomas,  was  a  partner  of  Robert 
Morris,  and  aided  in  financing  the  new  nation.  James  re 
moved  in  1774  to  Natchez,  where  he  dissipated  his  patrimony. 
In  1777  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  received  from  Con 
gress  a  commission  as  captain  in  the  navy,  with  permission  to 
proceed  to  the  Mississippi  River  to  secure  the  neutrality  of 
the  inhabitants  along  its  banks  and  to  bring  back  provisions 
to  the  states.  He  enlisted  a  company  for  this  purpose  (see 
roll  in  Penna.  Archives,  2nd  series,  xv,  p.  658),  and  in  an 
armed  boat  christened  "Rattletrap"  left  Pittsburgh  Jan.  10, 
1778.  Arrived  at  Natchez  he  succeeded  in  securing  a  pledge 
of  neutrality  from  the  chief  inhabitants  (see  Almon's  Remem 
brancer,  vi,  p.  343) ,  but  was  accused  of  having  in  a  wanton 
manner  pillaged  and  inflicted  damages  on  their  property. 
Having  proceeded  to  New  Orleans,  Willing  captured  a  small 


192         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

manner  I  could  supplied  him  with  such  things  as  he 
wanted,  but  am  afraid  the  river  will  be  shut  up  before 
he  gets  away.  *  *  * 

EDW.  HAND 
To  Rhd.  Peters,  Sec.  of  Bd.  of  War 


[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.   in   New  York 
Public  Library;    Hand  Papers— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  27th.  Decr.  1777 

DEAR  YEATES — Just  as  the  Major  [Jasper  Ewing] 
was  about  to  set  out  for  Lancaster  I  recd.  your  favours 
of  24  &  26  Novr.  &  8th.  Instant,  and  need  not  mention 
my  joy  at  the  agreable  tidings  you  give  me,  my  ab 
sence  from  this  Place  for  some  time  prevented  my 
Answering  your  Many  Favours  Sooner,  I  refer  you 
to  my  last  &  the  Major  for  every  thing  worthy 
Relating  from  this  Place.  I  wish  much  for  an  En 
quiry  into  the  Causes  of  the  Indian  Expedition  failing 
&  hope  judicious  men  will  be  Appointed 

Adieu  Dr.  Yeates  remember  me  to  every  Body  & 
Believe  me  to  be  most  Affectionately  yrs 

Eowd  HAND 
Jasper  Yeates,  Esqr.      pr.  Major  Ewing 


British  vessel  at  Manchac,  and  used  this  for  further  depreda 
tions  on  the  property  of  British  sympathizers.  In  the  follow 
ing  year  he  sent  his  troops  back  up  the  river  under  charge  of 
Lieut.  Robert  George,  who  placed  them  under  the  orders  of 
Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark.  Willing  himself  proceeded  to 
Mobile,  where  he  was  captured  and  narrowly  escaped  being 
hung.  He  was  finally  shipped  as  prisoner  to  New  York,  and 
kept  on  Long  Island,  under  parole,  with  other  American 
officers.  Having  resented  an  insult  offered  by  a  British  offi 
cer,  Willing  was  incarcerated  in  New  York  City  and  loaded 
with  irons,  where  he  remained  for  three  months.  One  of  his 
sisters,  wife  of  a  British  officer,  interceded  for  him  with  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  who  finally  permitted  him  to  return  to  Phila- 


AN  ATTACK  SUGGESTED  193 

NEW  EXPEDITIONS  PLANNED 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Westmoreland  officers.     3NN94— 
Transcript] 

FORT  PITT,  27th.  Decr.  1777. 

Dr.  SIR — I  am  informed  that  the  gentn.  in  West 
moreland  have  it  in  agitation  to  make  a  descent  on  one 
of  the  Indian  Villages  on  the  Alleghany.  I  think  that 
it  might  be  put  in  execution  without  much  hazard — 
would  therefore  gladly  consult  with  you  on  the  occa 
sion,  as  I  can  make  you  acquainted  with  many  circum 
stances  you  are  now  a  stranger  to  I  am,  dear  Sir,  very 
sincerely  yrs. 

EDwd.  HAND 

Col.  Jn°.  Proctor  or  Col.  Jas.  Smith 


[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Col.  William  Crawford.     3NNQ5 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  Dec.  28th.  1777. 

Dr.  CRAWFORD — As  I  expect  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  in  a  few  days,  shall  defer  communicating  a  matter 
I  much  wish  to  set  on  foot,  until  that  time.63 

There  are  at  Kayahoga  about  100  miles  from  here, 
a  magazine  of  arms  and  provisions  sent  from  Detroit, 
&  15  batteaux  lie  there.  You  may  guess  the  rest. 
Yrs.  &c. 

Eowd.  HAND 

Col.  \Y"m.  Crawford 


delphia  on  parole  until  exchanged.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
exchanged  for  Henry  Hamilton,  governor  of  Detroit.  Willing 
was  never  married.  He  made  his  home  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  died  Oct.  13,  1801. — ED. 

63  See  Crawford's  reply  of  Jan.  4,  1778,  published  in  C  W. 
Butterfield,  Washington-Crawford  Letters  (Cincinnati,  1877), 
p.  66. — ED. 

13 


194         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

NEWS  FROM  FORT  RANDOLPH 

[Capt.  William  McKee  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.      iUi33 — 
A.  L.  S.] 

SIR — Messrs  Bailey64  &  Lynn  Express  from  Ken 
tucky  to  you  Calld  here  on  their  way  with  whom  I 
transmit  your  Excellency  some  ace1  of  the  state  of  this 
Garrison  and  what  has  happened  since  your  Depart 
ure  on  the  29th  Nov.  last  Lt  Moor  with  a  Reconoit- 
ring  party  fell  into  an  ambuscade  of  about  20  Indians 
within  about  100  yds  of  the  turnip  field  Mr.  Moor  & 
one  private  belonging  to  my  Compy  were  killd.  we 


04  John  Bailey  was  born  in  Northumberland  County,  Va., 
May  4,  1/48.  He  came  to  Kentucky  as  early  as  1/76,  and 
appears  to  have  lived  at  Harrodsburg.  In  17/8  he  was  com 
missioned  lieutenant,  and  joined  Clark's  Kaskaskia  expedi 
tion.  In  August  of  that  year  Clark  sent  him  to  the  aid  of 
Capt.  Leonard  Helm  at  Vincennes.  Having  returned  to  Kas 
kaskia,  Bailey  became  a  member  of  the  expedition  to  recap 
ture  Vincennes,  and  was  sent  in  advance  with  a  detachment 
of  fourteen  men  to  make  the  first  attack  on  Fort  Sackville. 
When  Clark  left  Vincennes,  Bailey  was  placed  in  command 
of  part  of  the  garrison.  November,  1779,  found  him  at  a 
council  of  war  at  Louisville,  when  he  is  first  designated  as 
captain.  In  1780,  Bailey  accompanied  Montgomery  on  his 
expedition  to  Rock  River,  and  early  in  the  following  year  was 
in  command  at  Fort  Jefferson  on  the  Mississippi.  Thence  he 
was  detached  in  January,  1781,  to  take  command  at  Vin 
cennes,  where  he  remained  until  November  under  great  diffi 
culties,  due  to  lack  of  provisions,  hostility  of  the  Indians,  etc. 
In  1782  and  1783  he  was  still  in  service  at  Fort  Nelson,  and 
in  1784  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the  Clark  grant  of 
land  in  Indiana,  wherein  he  received  his  captain's  allotment. 
At  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  Captain  Bailey  became  a 
Baptist  preacher,  and  was  influential  in  laying  the  foundations 
of  that  church  in  Kentucky.  In  1792  and  1799  he  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  constitutional  conventions  for  the  state,  and  voted 
in  favor  of  an  emancipation  clause.  He  died  at  his  home  in 
Lincoln  County,  July  3,  1816,  leaving  the  reputation  of  an 
honored  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  a  loyal,  efficient  soldier 
and  public  servant. — En. 


CAMP  DISEASES  195 

sallyd  from  the  Garrison  with  all  Possible  speed  but  on 
our  approach  the  Enemy  fled  in  diffrent  parties  so  that 
we  Got  none  of  them  nor  any  thing  belonging  to  them 
only  one  Blanquet  &  a  Tomhawk.  about  8  Days 
Afterwards  one  came  to  the  other  side  the  Ohio  Just 
as  it  got  Dark  Fired  his  Gun  and  Calld.  over  that  He 
was  Morgan65  and  was  perishing  with  cold  &  Hunger 
wanted  to  be  brought  over  I  woud  not  let  any  of  the 
men  go  over  But  sent  Katty  &  Fawney66  as  they 
wer[e]  setting  off  he  askd.  how  many  were  coming 
with  her  was  told  none  but  the  two;  he  told  her  not 
to  come  till  morning  But  we  have  [heard]  nothing 
of  the  Gentleman  since  I  suppose  he  wanted  some 
hair  [a  scalp]  but  was  Disappointed  nothing  of  Im 
portance  has  happened  since  The  small  Pox  & 
Meazles  both  spread  through  the  Garrison  there  is 
now  17  men  lying  in  them.  Cap1  Arbuckle  left  the 
Garrison  the  5th  Inst*.  n  men  went  with  him  four 
had  gone  before  make  15  on  Furloe  the  state  of 
the  Garrison  at  present  as  follows — Capt  Arbuckles 
Compy  i  IA  &  serg't  19  Rank  &  file  fit  for  Duty  5 
serg1.  8  Rank  &  file  sick  I  sergt  7  Rank  &  file  on 
Furloe. 

My  Compy  i  Capt  i  L1.  2  Sergts.  39  Rank  and  file 
fit  for  Duty  8  Rank  &  file  sick  i  Serg?t  6  Rank  and  file 
in  Furloe  i  Lfc  absent  You  will  Sir  see  by  this  our 


65  No  doubt  this  was  an  Indian  who  had  taken  the  name  of 
Col.    George    Morgan,    long   a    trader   in   the   Western    coun 
try.— ED. 

66  Katty   [Katy]    was  the  Grenadier  Squaw,   for  whom   see 
ante,    p.    26,    note    57.     Fawny    [Fanny]     was    probably    her 
daughter,  who  is  known  to  have  been  at  Fort  Randolph  with 
her.— ED. 


196         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Garrison  is  verry  weak  and  in  all  probability  will  be 
weaker  as  many  of  the  men  have  those  Disorders  to 
take. 

The  Commissary  has  wrote  you  and  (I  suppose) 
has  given  an  ace1,  of  the  Provisions. 

Please  Present  my  Compts.  Majr  Ewing  &  other 
officers  at  your  post  tho'  unacquan[t]ed.  I  am  your 
Excellencys  Most  obed1.  Hble  Serv1 

Wm.  MCKEE. 
FORT  RANDOLPH    3ist.  Decem    1777 

P.   S.     We  have  Nominated  Mr.   David  Wallace07 
my  Eldest  Sergt  to  act  as  second  Ll  in  my  Compy     I 
hope  you'll  approve  of  &  signify  your  approbation  in 
your  next. 
On   Continental    service      To   His   Excellency  Edward   Hand 

B.   Gen*.  

PLANS  FOR   CLARK'S  EXPEDITION 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  General  Hand.  3NNiQ6 — Transcript.] 

WILLIAM SBURGH,  Jan.  2^  1778. 

SIR — I  was  favored  with  your  two  last  letters  which 
shall  have  my  attention. 

I  have  to  request  that  you  will  please  to  furnish 
Major  G.  R.  Clark  with  boats  sufficient  for  conveying 
seven  companys  of  militia  on  an  expedition  of  great 
consequence.68  Besides  the  immediate  advantages 


67  Probably   belonging  to   the    Wallace    family   of    Augusta 
County,  early  settlers  near  Staunton. — ED. 

68  George  Rogers  Clark  (1752-1818)  was  born  in  Albemarle 
County,  Va.,   and   as   early   as    1774   was   surveying  on   Ohio 
River.     For   his   commission   as   captain    in   Lord    Dunmore's 
War  see  volume  thereon  in  the  present  series,  p.  156.     In  1775 
he  visited  Kentucky,  and  was  occupied  with  its  defense  until 
the  autumn  of  1777,  when  he  returned  to  Virginia  to  obtain 
authority    for    his    plan    to    capture    the    Illinois    settlements. 


CLARK'S  ERRAND  197 

arising  from  the  success  of  it,  the  consequential  bene 
fits  will  be  many.  A  good  understanding  with  [New] 
Orleans  is  a  desirable  object.  And  I  must  entreat  you, 
Sir,  to  give  Major  Clark  every  assistance  which  he 
may  want.  The  boats  I  hope  will  not  long  be  wanted ; 
&  the  use  of  them,  &  every  other  thing  furnished  by 
you  will  be  amply  compensated  by  the  Major's  suc 
cess,  which  I  beg  leave  to  assure  you  I  am  most  anx 
iously  concerned  for.  I  refer  you  to  that  gentleman 
for  an  explanation  of  the  errand  on  which  he  goes. 
It  is  needless  to  inform  you  how  necessary  it  is  that 
the  whole  affair  should  be  kept  impenetrably  secret. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir,  Yr  obedient  hble.  Serv1 

P.  HENRY. 

P.  S.  I  should  have  consulted  you  on  the  expedi 
tion,  but  time  would  not  permit.  I  direct  the  Major 
to  get  his  powder  &  lead  from  your  quarter.  Please 
to  let  him  have  what  is  necessary.  P.  H. 

Genl  Hand,  Pittsburgh     Favd  by  Majr  Clark. 


EXPEDITIONS  FOB  NEW  ORLEANS 

[General  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.  in  New  York  Public 
Library ;    Hand  Papers — A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  6th.  Jany.  1778 

DEAR  YEATES — Since  I  wrote  you  by  Major  Ewing 
have  nothing  to  mention  but  the  Arival  of  Mr  George 


This  proposal  was  approved  by  Gov.  Patrick  Henry,  and  the 
accompanying  letter  was  one  of  several  issued  on  this  date, 
destined  to  promote  the  expedition.  Clark  had  at  this  time 
been  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  of  Virginia  militia ;  but 
Henry  uses  familiarly  his  former  title  of  major,  given  while 
in  command  of  Kentucky  forts.  The  object  of  the  expedition 
had  necessarily  to  be  kept  secret,  to  insure  its  success. — ED. 


198         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Clymer09  (one  of  the  Commissioners)  Yesterday.7" 
J  have  not  yet  heard  of  the  Other  Gent",  hope  they 
may  soon  Arive  and  that  I  may  be  Able  to  return  with 
Mr.  Clymer  as  our  Army  has  gone  into  \Vinter  Quar 
ters,  suppose  nothing  material  will  take  place  before 
Spring  My  love  to  every  Body  Adieu!  Dr.  Yeates 

Affectionately  yrri. 

EDWd  HAND 
Jasper  Yeates   Esqr. 


[Capt.  James  Willing  to  General  Hand.    3NNig8 — Transcript.] 

Ft  PITT,  Jan.  7,  1778. 

As  I  expect  to  bring  at  least  five  boats  from  New 
Orleans  laden  with  dry  goods,  &  navigated  by  20  or  25 
men  each,  I  request  the  favor  of  you  to  give  the  neces 
sary  orders  for  a  sufficient  quantity  of  flour  &  pork  to 


09  George  Clymer  was  a  prominent  Philadelphia  patriot. 
Born  in  that  city  in  1739,  he  was  educated  by  his  uncle, 
William  Coleman,  and  early  entered  into  the  colonial  disputes. 
He  opposed  the  landing  of  tea,  served  on  the  first  committee 
of  safety,  and  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence.  For  several  years  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Continental 
Congress  and  to  the  Constitutional  Convention.  He  was  first 
collector  of  excise  for  Philadelphia,  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Bank  of  North  America,  and  a  commissioner  (1796)  to 
treat  with  Cherokee  Indians.  He  died  in  1813  at  his  home  in 
Bucks  County,  Pa. — ED. 

70  Nov.  20,  1777,  Congress  took  into  consideration  the  state 
of  the  Western  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  and 
the  disaffection  existing  there  as  the  result  of  Hamilton's 
proclamations.  It  determined  to  appoint  a  commission  of 
three  to  investigate  the  rise,  progress,  and  extent  of  the  dis 
affection  and  to  provide  means  both  for  checking  it  and  the 
Indian  ravages.  Col.  Samuel  Washington,  Mr.  Gabriel  Jones, 
and  Col.  Joseph  Reed  were  appointed.  The  last  named  having 
withdrawn,  George  Clymer  was  (Dec.  n)  elected  to  take  his 
place.  See  Jour,  of  Cong,  (new  ed.),  ix,  pp.  942-944, 
1018. — Eu. 


ROGERS'S  EXPEDITION  199 

be  lodged  for  me  by  the  beginning  of  April  next  at  the 
Arkansas.71  Not  less  than  60  or  70  barrels  of  flour, 
of  250  to  300  lbs  each,  &  20  or  30  bbls  of  pork.  I  will 
supply  my  crews  with  the  remaining  quantity  of  meat 
necessary  below.  

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  General  Hand.   3NN 199— Transcript.] 

WmsBURG,  Jan.  15th   1778. 

SIR — Col.  David  Rogers  has  my  instructions  to  pro 
ceed  to  New  Orleans  on  business  of  the  greatest  con 
cern  to  the  State.72  He  must  have  boats,  provisions, 
Men,  &c.  without  which  his  journey  will  be  stopped.  I 
trouble  you,  Sir,  on  this  occasion,  so  important  to  the 
interests  of  America,  hoping  for  your  warmest  Exer 
tions  to  fit  out  the  Colonel  in  the  Most  Speedy  manner. 
His  principal  difficulties  will  probably  be  in  procuring 
boats  &  men.  But  I've  hopes  that  in  a  Matter  of  such 
high  moment  to  your  part  of  the  country,  everything 
necessary  for  the  trip  will  be  got  with  alacrity.  Am 
munition  &  arms  will  be  delivered  him  by  you,  Sir,  I 
hope  with  Convenience.  I  am.  Sir,  Yr  Mo.  hble  Servfc 

P.  HENRY. 

Gen.  Hand. 


71  Arkansas  Post  was  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  having  been  founded  in  1686  by  some  of  Henri 
Tonty's  men.  The  settlement  was  not  continuous,  the  fort 
having  been  permanently  founded  about  1718  under  the  re 
gime  of  John  Law.  The  official  name  of  the  post  was  St. 
Etienne,  but  it  was  commonly  known  as  "Aux  Arcs",  pho 
neticized  by  Americans  into  Ozark.  In  1748  it  suffered  an 
attack  by  the  Chickasaw,  and  four  years  later  was  substan 
tially  rebuilt.  The  Spanish  kept  a  garrison  there  throughout 
their  possession  of  Louisiana,  and  in  1804  surrendered  the 
fort  to  the  Americans. — ED. 

~-  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Col.  David  Rogers  and  his  expedi 
tion,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  232,  note  75. — ED. 


200         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

[General  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.  in  New  York  Public 
Library;   Hand  Papers — A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT   17th.  Jany.  1778 

DEAR  YEATES — Since  my  last  nothing  has  Occured 
worth  relating  in  the  Public  Way,  and  as  to  my  pro 
ceedings  in  the  private  Character,  I  cant  say  how  you 
will  relish  them.  I  have  Agreed,  with  Mr.  Jas.  Willing 
for  half  my  Concerns  on  Chartiers  Creek,73  the  terms 
Kitty  will  communicate.  Mr.  Clymer  begins  to  be 
uneasie  at  the  stay  of  the  other  Gentn.  I  hope  I  shant 
have  Occasion  to  be  so  on  Jessy's  Ace1,  and  that  I  shall 
See  you  soon 

my  love  to  every  Creature  of  your  Family,  My  re- 


73  Chartier's  Creek  rises  in  Washington  County  and  flows 
north  and  northeast  into  the  Ohio,  a  short  distance  below 
Pittsburgh.  The  name  (which  was  corrupted  by  the  early 
settlers  into  Shurtees)  is  an  interesting  reminder  of  early 
Indian  occupation.  A  French-Canadian  named  Martin  Char- 
tier  was  one  of  La  Salle's  party,  and  resided  at  Fort  St.  Louis 
in  the  Illinois.  Having  married  a  Shawnee  squaw  he  migrated 
south  and  east  with  a  band  of  that  tribe,  finally  appearing 
(1692)  in  Maryland — see  Hanna,  Wilderness  Trail,  i, 
pp.  119-135.  Later,  these  people  settled  on  the  Susquehanna, 
where  Chartier  died  in  1718.  His  only  son  Peter  had  great 
influence  with  the  Shawnee  and  removed  with  them  to  the 
Ohio,  where  his  village  was  known  as  Chartier's  Town.  Be 
ing  induced  to  embrace  the  French  interest  he  persuaded  his 
band  to  remove  (1745)  down  the  Ohio,  after  which  his  his 
tory  is  not  known.  Two  localities  in  western  Pennsylvania 
preserve  his  name — Chartier's  Run  and  Station  in  Westmore 
land  County,  and  Chartiers  Creek.  The  latter  is  noted  for 
the  quality  of  its  land.  It  was  included  in  an  Indian  grant 
of  1749  to  George  Croghan,  and  he  sold  a  number  of  loca 
tions  thereon.  Probably  Hand's  tract  belonged  to  this 
number. — ED. 


VOLUNTEERS  WANTED  201 

spects   to   Mr.    Shippen's   &ca.     Farewell   Dr.   Yeates 

Affectionately  yrs. 

EDWd.  HAND 

Mc.Kee  is  Order  d  down74 
To  Jasper  Yeates  Esqr.  Lancaster     pr.  Col :  Steel 


HAND'S   EXPEDITION   INTO   THE   INDIAN 
COUNTRY 

[General  Hand  to  Col.  William  Crawford.     3NNQ5— 
Transcript.] 
YOHIOGANIA  Cox'y,   5th  Feb.    1778. 

Dr  SIR — As  I  am  credibly  informed  that  the  English 
have  lodged  a  quantity  of  arms,  ammunition,  provision 
&  clothing  at  a  small  Indian  town  about  100  miles 
from  Fort  Pitt,  to  support  the  savages  in  their  excur 
sions  against  the  inhabitants  of  this  and  the  adjacent 
counties,  I  ardently  wish  to  collect  as  many  brave 
active  lads  as  are  willing  to  turn  out,  to  destroy  this 
magazine.  Every  man  must  be  provided  with  a  horse, 
&  every  article  necessary  to  equip  them  for  the  expe 
dition,  except  amunition,  which,  with  some  arms,  I  can 
furnish. 

It  may  not  be  unnecessary  to  assure  them,  that 
everything  they  are  able  to  bring  away  shall  be  sold  at 
public  vendue  for  the  sole  benefit  of  the  captors,  &  the 
money  equally  distributed,  tho'  I  am  certain  that  a 
sense  of  the  service  they  will  render  to  their  country 


74  The  expression  "down  the  country"  was  used  as  an 
equivalent  for  return  to  the  East.  February  7,  1778,  General 
Hand  wrote  to  Alexander  McKee :  "SiR — I  am  sorry  to  be 
under  the  necessity  of  repeating  my  desire  of  the  2Qth  Dec. 
last,  viz.  that  you  may  immediately  repair  to  Yorktown,  in 
Penn.,  on  your  parole,  there  to  receive  the  further  directions 
of  the  Hon.  Continental  Board  of  War."  See  C  W.  Butter- 
field,  History  of  the  Girtys  (Cincinnati,  1800),  p.  40. — ED. 


202         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  OX  UPPER  OHIO 

will  operate  more  strongly  than  the  expectation  of 
gain.  1  therefore  expect  you  will  use  your  influence 
on  this  occasion,  £  bring  all  the  volunteers  you  can 
raise  to  Fort  Pitt  by  the  I5lh  of  this  month.  I  am,  deal 
s',  Yr.  obed1  huble  Serv1 

EDW(I  HAND. 
Col.  Wm  Crawford. 

N.  B.     The  horses  shall  be  appraised,  &  paid  for  if 
lost. 


SUPPLIES   FOR    WESTERN   EXPEDITIONS 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Gen.  Horatio  Gates.      3NN<)8 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  12th  Feby    1778. 

SIR — I  do  myself  the  honor  to  enclose  you  the  Copy 
of  a  letter  I  yesterday  recd  from  his  Exc-v  Govr  Henry. 
I  can't  doubt  but  Congress  will  direct  an  immediate 
compliance  with  the  demands  he  makes.  £  would  not 
myself  hesitate  to  grant  them,  yet  as  time  will  admit 
of  consulting  your  Honble  Board,  1  think  it  my  duty 
so  to  do.  I  request  your  instructions  how  to  act  by 
return  of  the  express. 

On  the  17th  ult°  I  wrote  to  the  Honble  the  Commer 
cial  Committee  Enclosing  a  demand  made  on  me  by 
Capt.  James  Willing  of  the  armed  boat  Rattle  Trap,  & 
Col.  George  Morgan's  Estimate  for  provisions  to  be 
sent  to  the  Arkansas. 

It  will  be  very  necessary  that  their  determination  be 
immediately  communicated,  as  the  protection  Major 
Clark's  party  can  afford  the  provision  boats  as  far  as 
the  Cherokee  fort,  which  is  within  40  miles  of  the 


LEAD  FOR  CLARK  203 

mouth  of  the  Ohio,73  will  save  an  expense  of  men,  (a 
Matter  of  Consequence  in  this  quarter.) 

It  is  to  be  lamented  that  Govr.  Henry  had  not  recol 
lected  that  the  three  tons  of  lead  ordered  from  Vir 
ginia  by  Congress  in  April  last,  never  reached  this 
place,  which  leaves  it  in  a  deplorable  Situation,  &  such 
as  deserves  your  early  attention.  The  whole  stock 
now  in  store  amounts  to  no  more  than  508  lbs — vide 
last  return ;  but  hope  to  draw  from  the  out-posts  what 
will  serve  Major  Clark.  The  intent  of  the  expedition 
is  to  seize  upon  the  British  post  &  stores  at  Kaskas- 
quias  in  the  Illinois  Country,  of  which  it  is  likely  you 
are  apprized.  I  wish  you  every  happiness,  &  am,  Sir, 
Very  respectfully  Yr  obed1  hble  Serv1. 

EDwd  HAND. 

P.  S.     An  officer  &  private  were  killed  within  300 
yards  of  Fort  Randolph  since  I  left  it. 
To  the  Honble  Maj.  Gen.  Gates,  Presid*  of  Board  of  War. 


OATHS   OF   ALLEGIANCE 

[Capt.  Thomas  Burk  to  Col.  William  Preston.    4QQis8 — 
A.  L.  S.] 

DEAR  Sr — I  have  Calld  the  men  to  Gather  A  gree- 
able  to  your  orders  and  am  sorry  that  I  Cannot  Sat- 
tisfy  my  own  Concience  so  far  as  to  Cumply  and  take 


75  The  Cherokee  fort  was  that  known  to  the  French  as 
Fort  Massiac  (Massac),  built  by  them  in  1757  to  check  the 
incursions  of  Cherokee  Indians.  It  was  garrisoned  through 
out  the  French  regime.  British  engineers  recommended  it 
as  an  important  site,  but  it  was  allowed  to  fall  into  ruins. 
At  this  site  began  Clark's  overland  march  to  Kaskaskia.  In 
1794  the  United  States  rebuilt  the  post,  which  was  garrisoned 
until  after  1812.  The  site  has  recently  been  purchased  for  a 
state  park,  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Historical  Society 
of  Illinois. — ED. 


204         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Oath  prescribed  by  law  and  I  Renderd  my  Reason  to 
you  When  we  held  a  Coversation  at  your  own  house 
&  Neighther  Do  I  through  stubburnness  Refuse  But 
Ever  lookd  Upon  it  my  Duty  When  I  took  an  oath  on 
any  occation  their  should  be  Noo  doubt  of  Concience 
I  Never  flew  in  the  face  of  authority  Neither  shall  I, 
and  stand  not  In  Defyence  of  Goverment  But  Know- 
Very  wel  that  I  must  be  under  the  law  of  men  and  am 
not  against  any  thing  in  Reason  and  stand  in  reason 
able  fear  of  My  fellow  man  But  must  think  that  I 
have  A  god  to  fear  as  he  is  the  Creator  of  us  all  and 
says  the  Rather  fear  him  who  is  able  to  Destroy  both 
soul  and  body  in  hell  I  think  it  Requisit  at  all  times 
to  take  sum  thought  of  an  Eternal  state  as  well  as  all 
for  temporal  I  do  not  hint  on  any  man  that  has  takun 
it  But  only  in  vindication  of  my  own  Concience  as  I 
think  the  apostle  Paul  says  What  shall  it  profit  a  man 
if  he  gain  the  whole  World  and  loos  his  own  soul.  I 
Declare  my  selfe  a  rail  friend  to  my  Country  Nither 
have  I  Ever  don  any  thing  Against  it  and  as  to  the 
Resolveing  any  thing  of  rebeling  against  the  Country 
I  Never  thought  of  any  such  thing  Neighther  have  I 
Ever  heard  Mankind  in  my  own  Cumpany  or  any 
other  person  What  Ever  speake  or  Motion  the  like,  it 
is  not  in  my  thought  to  teach  any  thing  Concerning 
scripture  But  Know  you  able  to  Be  my  Guide  and  am 
With  grate  Respect  your  Most  obedient  Humble 
servant 

THOS  BURK 

And  I  hear  in  Close  the  Commition  Deliverd  to  me 
and  Must  Resine 

febry  i8th   1778. 


PROTECTING  THE  FRONTIERS  205 

DEFENSE  OF   VIRGINIA 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  William  Fleming.      isZZi;— 
A.  L.  S.] 

WlLLIAMSBURG,  Feby   19th     1778. 

SIR — The  Murder  of  the  Shawanese  Indians  will  no 
doubt  bring  on  Hostilities  with  that  People.  In  order 
to  ward  off  the  Stroke  which  may  be  expected  it  is 
necessary  to  have  every  Gun  in  your  County  put  into 
good  order  &  got  ready  for  Action.  Lead  may  be  had 
from  the  Mines.  An  order  for  one  pound  for  each 
Man  of  your  Militia  accompany's  this.  Powder  it  is 
said  is  plenty  among  you.  If  it  cant  be  had  otherwise 
send  to  Richmond  for  it.  Let  trusty  Scouts  be  kept 
in  constant  Action  towards  the  Enemys  Country  to 
discover  their  Movements  &  give  Information  of  ap 
proaching  Danger.  Proper  Stockades  or  Defences  to 
receive  the  more  helpless  part  of  the  People  should  be 
provided  in  time  and  fixed  at  Places  judiciously 
chosen,  that  the  able  Men  may  be  at  liberty  to  assail 
the  Enemy  &  range  the  Frontiers  as  occasion  may  re 
quire.  These  Stockades  should  be  provided  at  the 
Expence  of  your  People  &  are  not  meant  to  be  garri 
soned  only  as  particular  Exigencies  may  make  neces 
sary.  I  think  no  Neighbourhood  ought  to  be  without 
one  where  the  Enemy  can  possibly  penetrate.  In  case 
of  Attack  you  are  to  draw  out  such  Force  from  the 
Militia  as  you  judge  sufficient  to  chastise  the  Invaders. 
Let  the  pursuit  of  Scalping  Parties,  be  close,  hot  and 
determined,  for  if  Vengeance  is  taken  on  the  foremost 
Partys,  others  will  be  intimidated.  I  wish  to  rein 
force  Capt.  Arbuckles  Garrison  with  a  Company  of 
fifty  Men  officered  in  the  usual  manner  from  your 


206         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

County  and  that  they  should  march  thither  without 
delay.  Volunteers  enlisted  for  this  Business  to  serve 
six  Months  in  it,  I  would  prefer,  but  if  they  are  not 
to  be  got  without  loss  of  Time  let  the  Militia  be 
drafted.  For  I  expect  the  Indians  very  shortly  on  the 
Frontiers.  1  beg  the  favour  of  you  to  confer  with 
Col.  Preston  on  the  propriety  of  establishing  a  Post 
to  preserve  the  Communication  with  Fort  Randolph, 
perhaps  some  Place  near  the  mouth  of  Elk  River 
might  answer  this  purpose  and  also  check  the  Inroads 
of  the  Savages  if  the  Garrison  was  alert  and  diligent 
to  intercept  their  Parties. 

I  am  at  a  loss  for  Officers  in  Green  Bryar  and  wish 
for  a  recommendation  from  your  County  Court  of 
such  as  are  proper;  That  Place  will  be  attacked  tis 
likely  and  if  no  other  Expedient  can  be  found  I  must 
fill  up  the  Commisisons  in  Council,  where  the  Individ 
uals  cannot  be  known.  Rockbridge  is  in  the  same  situ 
ation.  \\  ill  you  please  to  assist  with  such  Informa 
tion  as  you  can  give  in  finding  fit  Persons  for  Officers. 
I  wish  the  Lead  to  be  carefully  preserved  for  the  pur 
pose  of  Defence  &  not  given  to  the  men  but  as  Occa 
sions  call  for  it,  except  in  exposed  Places,  where  the 
People  must  be  trusted  with  it.  I  ( think  the  Garrison 
proposed  near  Elk  need  not  consist  of  more  than  sixty 
Men,  but  I  submit  it  to  you  and  Col.  Preston  to  do  for 
the  best  being  on  the  Spot. 

You  will  perceive  my  Views  go  no  further  than  de 
fensive  Operations.  I  know  how  impossible  it  is  to 
render  them  completely  effectual  against  the  Enemies 
you  have  to  oppose.  But  offensive  Measures  set  on 
foot  against  these  Indians  at  this  time  after  their  late 


PROTECTING  THE  FRONTIERS  207 

Treatment,  would  be  too  full  of  Injustice  to  escape 
general  Execration.  Policy  &  even  Self  preservation 
may  ere  long  call  for  such  Measures.  But  even  then 
it  may  be  doubted  if  provisions  purchased  in  your 
parts  would  answer  the  Design. 

Having  now  done  every  thing  which  I  can  foresee 
to  be  necessary  for  protecting  the  Frontiers,  I  must  tell 
you  Sir  that  I  really  blush  for  the  occasion  of  this  War 
with  the  Shawanese.  I  doubt  not  but  you  detest  the 
vile  assassins  who  have  brought  it  on  us  at  this  critical 
Time  when  our  wrhole  Force  was  wanted  in  another 
Quarter.  But  why  are  they  not  brought  to  Justice? 
Shall  this  Precedent  establish  the  Right  of  involving 
Virginia  in  War  whenever  any  one  in  the  back  Coun 
try  shall  please  ?  I  need  not  argue  to  shew  you  Sir  the 
fatal  tendency  of  such  Conduct.  You  see  it  &  I  fear 
your  County  will  feel  indiscriminately  that  Misery 
which  ought  to  visit  only  the  guilty  Authors  of  the 
Mischief.  Some  say  the  People  of  your  Country  will 
not  suffer  the  Apprehension  of  the  Murderers.  I  de 
sire  it  may  be  remembered,  that  if  the  frontier  people 
will  not  submit  to  the  Laws,  but  thus  set  them  at  Defi 
ance,  they  will  not  be  considered  as  entitled  to  the  pro 
tection  of  Government,  and  were  it  not  for  the  miser 
able  Condition  of  many  with  you,  I  should  demand  the 
Offenders  previous  to  every  other  Step.  For  where  is 
this  wretched  Business  to  end  ?  The  Cherokees,  the 
Delawares  and  every  other  Tribe  may  be  set  on  us  in 
this  manner  this  Spring  for  what  I  know.  Is  not  this 
the  work  of  Tories?  No  Man  but  an  Enemy  to 
American  Independance  will  do  it,  and  thus  oblige 
our  People  to  be  hunting  after  Indians  in  the  Woods, 


208         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

instead  of  facing  Gen1  Howe  in  the  field,  search  into 
the  Matter  and  depend  upon  it  the  Murderers  are  Tor 
ies,  the  Honor  of  your  Country  is  at  stake  and  it  is 
time  to  decide  whether  these  Villains  are  to  meet  with 
punishment  or  whether  the  greater  Number  will 
espouse  their  Interests.  I  desire  you  to  the  utmost, 
at  all  hazards  &  to  the  last  Extremity  to  support  and 
assist  the  civil  Magistrate  in  apprehending  and  bring 
ing  these  offenders  to  Justice. 

If  the  Shawenese  deserved  Death,  because  their 
Countrymen  committed  Hostilities,  a  Jury  from  the 
Vicinage  will  say  so  and  acquit  the  accused  who  must 
be  judged  by  his  Neighbours  feeling  the  same  Resent 
ments  and  Passions  with  themselves.  But  they  are 
Traytors  I  suspect  and  Agents  for  the  Enemy,  who 
have  taken  this  method  to  find  employment  for  the 
brave  back  Woodsmen  at  home,  and  prevent  their 
joining  Gen1  Washington  to  strike  a  decisive  stroke 
for  Independency  at  this  critical  time. 

Urge  these  things  Sir  with  that  Spirit  and  Warmth 
the  Subject  demands,  prepare  your  People  for  their 
own  Defence  against  the  Indians  to  vindicate  their 
Honor  from  the  rude  attack  now  made  on  it,  and  let 
them  be  shewn  to  the  World  as  possessing  the  other 
virtues  which  usually  accompany  Courage. 

In  the  Confidence  that  what  I  now  press,  I  mean  the 
bringing  the  Murderers  of  the  Indians  to  Justice,  will 
be  done,  Government  will  loose  no  Time  in  lending  its 
best  Aids  to  protect  your  Country.  I  fear  something 
essential  for  the  frontier  Defence,  may  have  escaped 
me,  But  your  part  must  be  in  concert  with  your 
Neighbours  to  point  out  what  yet  remains  to  be  done 


PROTECTING  THE  FRONTIERS  209 

for  your  safety.  If  a  Reinforcement  of  fifty  Men 
more  is  necessary  at  Fort  Randolph  they  will  be  sent 
on  your  and  Col.  Preston's  writing  to  me. 

I  have  it  much  at  Heart  to  bring  the  Indians  to  treat 
on  the  subject  of  our  Difference  with  them,  perhaps 
the  Grenadier  Sqaw  may  be  usefull  in  this  Business, 
please  to  confer  on  this  matter  with  Col.  Preston  and 
let  every  possible  Effort  be  made  to  bring  on  a  Treaty, 
the  Expences  necessary  for  the  Attempt  I  will  pay  on 
Demand.  I  forbear  to  mention  particulars  for  begin 
ning  this  Work  as  they  must  be  better  judged  of  on 
the  spot,  but  at  all  Events  try  it  vigorously. 

Wishing  safety  to  you  &  your  people  I  am  Sir  Yr 

Mo.  hble  Serv* 

P.  HENRY 

Col°  Fleming     Botetourt      The  County  Lieutenant  of  Bote- 
tourt. 


NEWS  FROM  THE  FRONT 

[Col.  William  Russell  to  Col.  William  Fleming.     2U6— 

A.  L.  S.] 

CAMP  VALLEY  FORGE   March  i1   1778. 
Dr  SIR — Having  a  few  moments  leasure,  and  being 
favoured  with  this  opportunity  by  Col°  Gist;76  I  set 


76  Col.  Nathaniel  Gist  was  the  son  of  Christopher  Gist, 
scout  and  explorer,  who  accompanied  Washington  on  his 
perilous  journey  (1753)  to  Venango,  and  saved  the  life  of 
the  young  Virginian  envoy.  Nathaniel  was  scout  under  his 
father  in  Braddock's  campaign,  and  next  year  (1/56)  lieu 
tenant  of  the  company  of  scouts  in  Washington's  Virginia 
regiment.  By  1762  Nathaniel  had  the  rank  of  captain.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  undertook  a  perilous  jour 
ney  to  the  Cherokee  country  in  order  to  secure  their  neu 
trality.  In  January,  1777,  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of 
an  additional  Continental  regiment,  raised  by  order  of  Con 
gress,  which  command  was  known  as  Gist's  regiment.  He 

14 


210        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

down  to  remind  you,  that  through  mercy,  I  am  still  in 
existence;  and  tho'  I  have  not  been  so  happy  to  hear 
from  you  either  by  Letter  or  otherwise,  since  I  left 
your  House;  yet,  I  flatter  myselfe,  you  have  not  forgot 
your  promise  of  writting  to  me  at  convenient  times 
such  news  as  your  quarter  afford.  I  had  to  go  by  Fort 
Pitt  when  I  left  you,  on  my  way  to  head  Quarters, 
which  obliged  me  to  have  the  small  Pox  till  the  month 
of  July,  a  very  hot  season,  but,  I  weather'd  it  with  a 
good  deal  of  ease,  however  my  conflict  with  the  mea 
sles  was  very  severe,  of  which,  I  have  but  lately  recov 
ered,  tho'  I  underwent  constant  Duty  within  a  few 
Days  after  it  seized  me.  I  make  no  doubt  but  you 
have  long  since  been  acquainted  with  the  news  of  the 
summer,  and  fall,  since  which,  little  has  transpired. 
We  have  taken  up  winter  quarters  at  this  place,  and, 
having  erected  a  small  city  of  Cabbins  for  the  troops 
to  live  in,  it  is  likely  we  shall  remain  here  till  summer, 
unless  drove  from  it  by  Mr  How ;  which  I  doubt  of, 
as  we  are  at  present  fortifying  round  our  camp.  A 
committee  of  congress  is  now  setting  near  us.  to  regu 
late  our  army,  and  I  expect  will  new  model  in  particu- 


served  directly  under  Washington  during  1777,  but  in  the 
spring  of  1778  was  commissioned  to  undertake  a  second  jour 
ney  to  the  Cherokee.  In  that  capacity  he  left  the  army,  and 
passed  through  southwestern  Virginia.  The  summer  found 
him  again  with  the  army,  and  the  next  year  he  was  ordered 
to  reinforce  Charleston,  where  Gist  was  one  of  the  prisoners 
captured  in  May,  1780.  Released  upon  parole,  he  returned 
home  and  resigned  January  T,  1781.  Later  in  life,  after  mar 
riage  to  Judith  Cary  Bell  of  Virginia,  Colonel  Gist  removed 
d?93)  to  Kentucky,  where  he  died  early  in  the  nineteenth 
century,  leaving  several  descendants,  some  of  whom  obtained 
prominence  in  the  country's  service.  An  autograph  letter 
may  he  found  in  Draper  MSS.,  2Lio. — ED. 


NEWS  FROM  THE  FRONT  211 

lar,  the  present  arrangement  of  officers.  It  is  reported 
that  some  Regiments  will  be  diminished,  if  so,  it  is 
probable  some  of  us  Field  officers  of  the  last  six 
[Virginia  regiments]  will  be  reduced. 

Our  lite  infantry  is  to  consi[s]t  of  eighteen  Com 
panies  Commanded  by  Major  General  Arnold  &  two 
Brigadiers,  of  whom  Gen1  Scott  is  to  be  one;  the 
other  unknown ;  and  our  officers  will  hereafter  be  on  a 
more  respectable  footing.  Marquis  De  Lafayette, 
Gen1  Conway  and  Gen1  McCalb  [De  Kalb]  are  or 
dered  to  Canada,  and  will  command  in  that  quarter  the 
next  campaign;  their  influence  will  undoubtedly  be 
considerable  among  the  Canadians  it  is  said  they  are 
coming  over  fast  to  our  interest  already.  The  deten 
tion  of  Gen1  Burgoin  and  army,  I  expect  gives  great 
satisfaction  to  the  People  of  Virginia.  We  have  just 
heard  that  the  news  of  his  defeat  occasion'd  great  com 
motions  in  England.  The  Parliament  was  sitting  at 
the  time,  and,  when  the  accounts  reached  the  House; 
Col°  Barre  asked  leave  to  speak  on  the  occasion;  he 
was  ordered  to  silence,  but  a  great  majority  crying  out 
leave  leave,  he  was  permitted  together  with  Mr  Burke ; 
they  spoke  in  a  most  copious  manner,  it  is  said  much 
to  the  satisfaction  of  great  part  of  the  House:  we 
daily  expect  the  accts  in  Print:  if  it  comes  shortly  I 
will  send  it  to  you.  Gen1  Muhlenburg77  being  gone 


77  Gen.  John  Peter  Gabriel  Muhlenberg,  the  famous  "fight 
ing  parson",  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1746,  the  son  of  the 
founder  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  America.  Peter  was  sent 
for  education  to  Germany,  where  he  had  a  brief  military  ex 
perience.  Returning  home  he  took  orders,  and  settled  (1772) 
as  the  pastor  of  Woodstock,  Va.,  where  he  at  once  engaged 
in  the  Revolutionary  movement,  serving  on  the  committees 


212         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Home,  the  command  of  the  Brigade  devolved  on  me 
till  his  return,  which  gives  me  great  trouble,  and  have 
had  ever  since  his  absence,  in  discharging  the  soldiers 
who's  times  have  expired,  which  happens  almost  every 
Day  more  or  less.  There  is  strong  reasons  to  believe, 
that  my  Regiment  will  be  ordered  to  Fort  Pitt  very 
soon,  If  so,  and  I  continue  to  Command  it;  I  shall  try 
to  get  leave  of  absance  to  visit  my  family  and  friends 
before  I  go  there,  but  if  I  should  be  continued  here,  I 
am  doubtful  whether  I  can  be  spared :  but  his  Excel 
lency  General  Washington  has  assured  me  he  will  in 
dulge  me  if  possible.  I  should  be  exceeding  happy  to 
spend  an  evening  or  two  with  you,  I  have  much  more 
to  communicate  to  you  than  I  wood  chuse  to  do  by 
Letter,  for  seldom  any  passes  now  without  being 
opened,  and  too  commonly  lost  altogether.  No  doubt 


of  correspondence  and  safety,  in  the  state  convention,  and  as 
a  trusted  counsellor  of  Henry  and  Washington.  In  1776  he 
was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  8th  Virginia,  and  stepping 
from  the  pulpit  to  the  door  of  his  church,  he  enrolled  among 
his  parishioners  his  famous  German  regiment.  Muhlenberg's 
first  operations  were  in  Virginia,  but  in  1777  he  joined  the 
main  army  after  being  commissioned  (February  21)  briga 
dier-general.  Here  he  was  one  of  Washington's  most  trusted 
generals,  partaking  in  all  the  battles  and  campaigns  of  1777-78. 
The  short  furlough  mentioned  by  Russell  was  almost  his  only 
visit  to  his  Woodstock  home  during  the  first  three  years  of 
the  war.  In  1779-83  he  served  in  Virginia,  receiving  the  rank 
of  major-general  (September,  1783).  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  made  a  journey  to  the  West  to  locate  his  own  and  other 
officers'  lands,  intending  to  make  his  home  in  Kentucky.  But 
events  decided  his  return  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  there 
after  chiefly  made  his  home.  He  was  one  of  the  supreme 
executive  council  of  Pennsylvania,  member  of  the  first  Con 
gress  under  the  constitution,  and  U.  S.  senator ;  he  was  then 
collector  of  the  port  of  Philadelphia  (1801)  until  his  death 
in  1807. — En. 


NEWS  FROM  THE  FRONT  213 

but  you  have  long  since  heard  of  General  Stephen78 
loseing  his  Post  in  the  Army,  your  old  acquaintances 
Woodford,  Scott,  and  Weedon79  still  continue,  the  lat 
ter  gone  Home  on  Furloe.  Discontents  have  much 
prevailed  among  the  officers,  but,  I  hope  the  present 
regulations  will  give  general  satisfaction:  the  officers 
wait  with  great  impatience  to  know  them.  I  have  long 


78  For  this  officer,  see  Dunmore's  War,  p.  191,  note  35. — ED. 

79  "William   Woodford  was   the   son   of   a   militia   officer   in 
Caroline  County,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  6,  1734.     He  was 
first-lieutenant    and    then    captain    in    the    Virginia    regiment 
during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  he  married  a  near 
relative  of  Washington.     On  the  arming  for  the  Revolution, 
Woodford  was  chosen  colonel  of  the  2nd  Virginia  regiment, 
took  command  against  Lord  Dunmore,  and  won  the  engage 
ment  at  Great  Bridge    (Dec.  9,   1/75).     Having  resigned  his 
rank   upon    entering   the    Continental    establishment,    he    was, 
until    made    brigadier-general    in    1777,    placed    below    those 
whom  he  had  previously  ranked.     His  resignation   was  only 
avoided  through  the  personal  -solicitation  of  the  commander- 
in-chief,  who  had  a  marked  regard  for  his  abilities.     At  the 
battle  of   Brandy  wine  he   was   wounded,   but  continued   with 
the  main  army  until   (1779)   he  was  detached  to  the  relief  of 
Charleston.     There  he  was  captured,  taken  to  New  York,  and 
died  while  still  a  prisoner,  Nov.  13,  1780. 

Gen.  Charles  Scott  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Va. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  enlisted  in  the  Virginia  regi 
ment  and  was  at  Braddock's  defeat.  He  was  appointed  first 
sergeant,  then  ensign  of  the  regiment.  On  the  outbreak  of 
the  Revolution,  Scott  was  recommended  by  Washington  for  a 
commission,  and  made  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  5th  Virginia. 
He  served  with  the  main  army,  commanding  a  brigade  at 
Brandywine  and  being  with  Wayne  at  the  capture  of  Stony 
Point.  He  was  in  Charleston  at  the  time  of  its  surrender, 
and  did  not  thereafter  take  active  part  in  the  army.  In  1787 
Scott  removed  with  his  family  to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled 
in  \Voodford  County,  near  Versailles,  and  there  his  son 
Samuel  was  killed  in  1789  by  lurking  Indians.  In  1791  Scott 
headed  a  successful  expedition  against  the  Wea  Indians  on 
the  \Vabash,  when  the  old  Ouiatanon  settlement  was  totally 
destroyed.  One  of  his  sons  was  out  with  Wayne  in  1794. 
General  Scott  was  very  popular  with  his  neighbors,  and  in 
1808  he  was  chosen  governor  of  Kentucky,  in  which  office  he 


214        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

wished  to  hear  the  news  from  your  Quarter,  but  not 
one  old  acquaintance  will  favour  me  therewith ;  any 
thing  from  that  Quarter  wood  be  most  agreeable.  I  am 
sorry  to  hear  my  old  acquaintance  Cornstalk  is  killed, 
am  much  afraid  that  will  set  on  the  Shawanees  to 
War  against  our  frontier  in  conjunction  with  the  other 
northen  tribes ;  which  will  greatly  distress  our  People. 
I  understand  an  expedition  is  intended  against 
Detroyat  from  Fort  Pitt,  it  is  likely  I  shall  be  ordered 
on  that  service  with  my  Regiment:  I  hope  the  Militia 
will  be  forward  shou'd  they  be  calld  upon  for  that 
purpose ;  the  reduction  of  that  Post  will  secure  our 
Frontier. 

Tho'  I  have  been  frequently  hindered,  while  writting 
this,  by  giving  discharges  to  soldiers,  yet  I  have  per 
severed,  till  T  fear  it  may  tire  your  patience,  but  rely 
ing  on  your  goodness  to  accept  of  what  the  Camp  at 
present  affords,  shall  after  tendering  my  best  compli 
ments  to  your  Lady,  and  all  enquireing  Friends,  sub 
scribe  myself e  Dr  Sir,  Yours  most  affectionately. 

WM.  RUSSELL 

To  Col°  William  Fleming.     Botetourt  County,  Virginia. 
Favd  by  Col°  Gist. 


served  for  four  years.  He  died  at  his  home  in  October,  1813. 
Gen.  George  Weedon  was  born  in  Fredericksbnrg,  Va., 
about  1830.  A  neighbor  and  friend  of  Gen.  Hugh  Mercer, 
he  was  (1758)  an  officer  in  the  Virginia  regiment.  After  the 
war  he  became  an  innkeeper  at  his  native  place,  and  was  an 
active  and  zealous  Whig.  In  1776,  Weedon  was  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  3d  Virginia,  being  transferred  in 
August  of  the  same  year  to  the  ist.  In  February,  1777,  he 
was  appointed  brigadier-general,  and  commanded  a  brigade 
at  Brandywine  and  Germantown.  In  1780  he  was  assigned 
to  duty  in  Virginia,  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  breveted  major-general.  In 
1774  General  Weedon  married  Catherine  Gordon  of  Freder- 


THE  SQUAW  CAMPAIGN  215 

ACCOUNT  OF  HAND'S  EXPEDITION 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Ewing.      MS.   in  New  York 
Public  Library;    Hand  Papers — A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  7th  March   1778 

DEAR  YEATES — I  omitted  writing  to  you  by  the  last 
Opertunity  Because  I  had  nothing  material  then  to 
Communicate,  &  Expected  by  this  to  have  Mighty 
feats  to  declare,  having  recd.  intelligence  that  a  Quan 
tity  of  Stores  were  lodged  at  Cayahaga,  I  formed  a 
Project  of  Seizing  them  by  Surprise,  during  the  Sea 
son  in  which  the  Savages  might  Suppose  us  to  be  in 
active.  A  party  nearly  Amounting  to  500  Chiefly 
Westmoreland  Militia  Offerd  themselves  for  this  Ser 
vice,  but  unluckily  the  heavy  Rains  that  fell  soon  after 
we  set  Out,  together  with  the  Melting  of  the  snow 
raised  the  Waters  to  such  a  degree,  that  after  Swiming 
Some  Creek's  &  going  round  the  heads  of  others  we 
were  obliged  to  relinquish  our  Design,  about  40  miles 
up  Beaver  Creek  we  discoverd  Indian  Tracts  &  Sent 
out  reconnoitring  Parties  some  of  them  returnd  & 
Informd  they  had  found  a  Camp  Containing  between 
50  &  60  Indians,  I  conjectured  they  were  Warriors 
coming  into  Our  Settlements  &  proceeded  to  Attack 
them  But  to  my  great  Mortification  found  only  one 
Man  with  some  Women  &  Children,  the  Men  were 
so  Impetuous  that  I  could  not  prevent  their  Killing 
the  Man  &  one  of  the  Women,  another  Woman  was 
taken  &  with  difficulty  Saved,  the  remr.  escaped. 

The  prisoner  told  us  that  ten  Miles  higher,  Ten 
Money  [Munsey]  men  were  Making  salt.  I  detachd 


icksburg,  and  his  name  appears  in  the  Spottsylvania  records 
until  after  1793,  about  which  time  he  seems  to  have  died. — ED. 


216         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

a  party  to  Secure  them,  they  turn'd  out  to  be  4 
Women  &  a  Boy,  of  these  one  Woman  only  was  Saved. 
Notwithstanding  this  Savage  Conduct  I  verily  believe 
the  Party  would  Behave  well  if  they  had  men  to  con 
tend  with.  You  will  be  Surprised  in  performing  the 
Above  great  exploits  I  had  but  one  man  (a  Captn.) 
\Vounded,  &  one  Dround'd. 

I  cant  yet  give  you  the  Information  you  desire  of 
your  Indian  Brother  but  will  inform  myself  if  I  can. 

The  Virginia  Commissioners  have  not  Arived  here 
nor  can  I  learn  Any  thing  of  them.  I  beg  my  Love 
to  all  Your  Family.  My  respects  to  Mr.  Shippens  &ca. 
&  am  Dear  Yeates  your  Affectionate  Kinsman 

EDwd:  HAND 
To  Jasper  Yeates    Esqr.    Lancaster 


[Recollections  of  Samuel  Murphy.  3828-32.] 
General  Hand's  expedition.  This  was  in  the  winter 
1777-78  with  a  slight  fall  of  fresh  snow.  About  400 
men  [went  out].  Col.  Providence  Mounts,  of  Mounts 
Creek,80  which  empties  in  Youghiogheny,  was  out. 
Col.  William  Crawford,  Major  Brenton,  Capt.  John 


80  Providence  Mounts  was  a  Marylander  by  birth,  and  is 
said  to  have  been  with  Washington  at  Fort  Necessity.  In 
1768  he  removed  to  the  Youghiogheny,  in  what  is  now  Con- 
nellsville  township  of  Fayette  County,  where  he  erected  a 
mill  on  a  creek  which  there  emptied  into  the  river.  During 
the  Revolution  he  was  colonel  of  the  2nd  battalion  of  West 
moreland  militia,  and  in  addition  to  this  expedition  served  in 
the  pursuit  of  the  savage  enemy  after  the  sack  of  Hannas- 
town  (1782).  He  died  at  his  home  in  1784,  and  after  his  de 
cease  his  land  was  patented  to  his  descendants. — ED. 


THE  SQUAW  CAMPAIGN  217 

Stephenson,  Captain  Scott,81  etc.  William  Brady,  a 
blacksmith  of  Pittsburgh,  was  chosen  pilot.82  Simon 
Girty  was  out,  and  wanted  the  appointment. 

On  the  way  out,  Major  Brenton  lost  his  horse,  and 
he  got  Simon  Girty  to  remain  with  him,  they  found 
the  horse,  and  rejoined  the  army  just  at  the  close  of 
the  fight,  or  rather  firing,  on  the  Indian  town,  in  the 
forks  of  Neshaneck  and  Shenango  and  on  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  latter.83  Orders  had  been  given  as  they 


81  Capt.    David   Scott   was   born    on   the    South    Branch   of 
Potomac  River,  but  in   1770  he  moved  to  the   Monongahela, 
near  the  site  of  the  present  Granville — a  town  founded  by  his 
son  Felix  Scott — Monongalia  County,  West  Va.    Captain  Scott 
built  one  or  more  mills  in  the  vicinity,  and  was  a  prominent 
resident.     In  1779  Indians  murdered  his  daughters  Fanny  and 
Phebe   as   they   were   taking   dinner  to  men   in  the   hayfield. 
Later,  a  son  named  James  barely  escaped  capture.     An  old 
house  said  to  have  been  built  by  Captain  Scott  in  1776,  was 
lately   standing  on   the   farm   of  the   Gapen   family,   who   de 
scended  from  Captain  Scott's  youngest  daughter. — ED. 

82  Nothing  more   appears  in   reference  to  this  guide.     Ac 
cording  to  Samuel  Murphy's  recollections,  he  was  not  of  the 
family  of  Samuel  Brady. — ED. 

83  The  first  of  these  two  streams  is  usually  written  Neshan- 
nock.     The  village  raided  must  have  been  on  the  site  of  the 
present  town   of   Newcastle,   Mercer   County,   Pa.     This  was 
probably  part  of  the  Kuskuskies  towns    (see  ante,  note  45), 
which  originally  were  built  by  the  Iroquois.     These  villages 
seem  to  have  still  been  their  abode  when  Washington  visited 
the  WTest  in   1753.     The  latter  did  not  enter  Kuskuskies,  but 
passed  near  it  on  his  route  from  Logstown  to  Venango.    After 
the   opening   of    the    French    and    Indian   War,    the    Iroquois 
abandoned   this    region,    which   was   then    given    over   to   the 
Delawares,   who  had  important  settlements  on  Beaver  Creek 
and    its    branches.      There    the    Moravian    envoy    Frederick 
Christian  Post  visited  them  in  the  summer  of  1758.     He  de 
scribes  Kuskuskies  as  composed  of  four  towns,  some  distance 
apart,   and   says  that   at   one   of  them  the  French   had   built 
houses    for  the   Delawares;    probably   it   was   on  the   site  of 
Newcastle.      In   the   period   between   the    English    capture   of 
Fort  Duquesne  (1758),  and  Pontiac's  War  (1763),  the  Dela- 


218         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

approached  the  town  to  surround  it,  but  Colonel 
Mounts  did  not  fully  accomplish  his  part,  and  left  a 
gap,  and  Pipe's  wife  and  children  got  off,  a  little  fall 
of  snow  on  the  ground.  This  Pipe  was  a  brother 
of  Captain  Pipe.  The  mother  of  the  Pipes,  an  old 
squaw  was  pursued  and  shot  at  repeatedly,  when 
Thomas  Ravenscroft84  ran  up  to  the  old  squaw  and 
tried  to  pull  her  away,  but  the  bullets  still  flying,  and 
had  a  ball  through  his  legging;  when  a  Major  came  up 
and  put  a  stop  to  firing,  when  it  was  ascertained  that 
the  only  injury  she  had  received  was  the  loss  of  an  end 
of  a  little  finger.  An  old  squaw  was  shot  by  Lieut. 
[John]  Hamilton85  and  wounded  in  the  leg,  mistaking 


ware  tribesmen  withdrew  in  large  measure  to  the  Tuscarawas 
and  Muskingum.  The  village  raided  by  Hand's  warriors 
would  appear  to  have  been  at  this  time  (1778)  inconsiderable, 
with  few  vestiges  of  its  former  importance. — ED. 

84  Thomas  Ravenscroft  was  born  about   1750,   and  brought 
up  in  the  family  of  Col.  William  Crawford.     His  first  military 
service  was  in  Dunmore's  army  in  17/4;    the  next  year  (1775) 
he    enlisted    in    Capt.    John    Stephenson's   company,    and   later 
joined  the   i3th  Virginia  under  Colonel  Russell.     Discharged 
at  the  close  of  1777  or  early  in  1778,  he  was  out  with  Hand 
on  this  expedition,  and  in  1781  enlisted  under  Clark  for  ser 
vice  in  an  expedition  to  Detroit,  with  a  commission  as  lieuten 
ant.     Clark's  expedition  having  been  abandoned,  Ravenscroft 
was  employed  in  guarding  the  frontier.     When  out  with  Col. 
John  Floyd   in   September,   1781,  he  was  captured   and  taken 
prisoner  to  Detroit — see  original  letter  of  Floyd,  relating  this 
event,   in    Draper   MSS.,    51)89.     From   Detroit  he   was   sent 
down  to  Montreal  and  there  (June  20,  1782)  made  his  escape, 
but    was    shortly    recaptured — see    Canadian    Archives,    1887, 
p.  307.     At  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  Ravenscroft  was  ex 
changed  and  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  married  either 
the  widow  or  daughter  of  Col.  John  Hinkston.    He  was  living 
in  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  as  late  as  1823. — ED. 

85  Lieut.  John  Hamilton  lived  in  what  is  now  Washington 
County,   Pa.     In  the  autumn  of   1775  ne  enlisted  in  the   I3th 
Virginia  and  served  in  the  Eastern  army,  being  at  the  battles 


THE  SQUAW  CAMPAIGN  219 

her  for  a  warrior;  and  a  soldier  ran  up  and  toma 
hawked  her,  and  a  second  ran  up  and  shot  her.  Pipe 
shot  and  wounded  Captain  Scott  and  disabled  his  arm, 
and  when  nearly  ready  to  shoot  again,  some  one  shot 
Pipe,  and  Reasin  Virgin  passing  sunk  the  tomahawk 
in  his  head.  Then  commenced  a  wild  yelling  and 
shooting,  without  giving  the  least  heed  to  the  officers. 
A  few  cabins  only  were  there,  a  little  plunder  ob 
tained.  This  was  about  midday  in  February  or  March. 
That  afternoon  a  party  started  off  for  a  small  Indian 
settlement  several  miles  up  the  Mahoning  at  a  place 
called  the  Salt  Licks.86  Simon  Girty  went  as  pilot. 
They  did  not  reach  the  place  until  in  the  night,  found 
the  warriors  all  absent  hunting,  found  a  few  squaws 
there,  and  took  [one]  prisoner  and  brought  her  off, 
the  others  were  left.  A  small  Indian  boy  out  with  a 
gun  shooting  birds  was  discovered  and  killed,  and  sev 
eral  claimed  the  honor;  and  it  was  left  to  Girty  to  de- 


at  head  of  Elk  River,  at  Brandywine,  and  Germantown.  He 
would  seem  to  have  been  ordered  to  Fort  Pitt  late  in  1777, 
and  to  Jfrave  served  in  the  West  until  his  discharge  on 
Nov.  23;  1778.  Ten  years  later  he  moved  to  Ohio  with  Stites 
and  Symmes,  who  were  settling  the  Miami  country.  Hamilton 
was  employed  as  an  Indian  trader,  and  died  in  Ohio  in  1822. 
For  much  of  this  information,  our  thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  John 
S.  Hunt  of  Chicago. — ED. 

s*  For  the  location  of  Salt  Lick  Town,  see  ante,  p.  178, 
note  45.  The  town  at  this  site  was,  according  to  the  testimony 
of  John  McCullough,  a  captive  living  at  the  place,  built  in 
1755.  During  the  French  and  Indian  and  Pontiac's  wars  it 
was  a  place  of  much  importance,  and  several  prisoners  were 
brought  there  to  be  delivered  to  General  Bouquet  (1764). 
After  that,  however,  the  town  declined,  but  the  lick  was  fre 
quented  for  salt-making  until  1804,  when  a  final  skirmish 
occurred  between  the  aborigines  and  the  intruding  white  set 
tlers.— ED. 


220         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

cide,  and  his  decision  was  that  one  Zach.   Connell87 
killed  the  lad. 

At  the  first  town,  the  mother  of  Pipe  was  left  in  the 
town.  An  old  Dutchman  scalped  the  squaw  that  had 
been  killed,  and  put  the  scalp  in  his  wallet  with  his 
provisions,  and  in  swimming  a  stream  on  return  the 
Dutchman  lost  off  his  wallet,  and  exclaimed  patheti 
cally  "O,  I  loss  my  prosock  and  my  sculp."  This  was 
long  a  byword  with  the  troops. 
******** 

This  campaign  of  Hand's  was  better  known  as  the 
Squaw  campaign.88  Hand  was  greatly  displeased,  and 
doubtless  it  contributed  greatly  towards  his  leaving 
the  frontiers  and  rejoining  the  main  army. 


8"  Zachariah  Connell,  founder  of  the  Pennsylvania  town 
named  Connellsville  in  his  honor,  was  a  native  of  Virginia 
(1741)  and  settled  upon  this  site  about  1770.  With  him  came 
his  brother  James,  who  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Col. 
William  Crawford.  In  1776  Zachariah  was  appointed  captain 
of  militia  for  Yohogania  County,  and  one  of  the  justices  for 
the  same.  He  was  very  regular  in  attendance  at  county  court, 
as  the  records  show.  Connell  was  a  surveyor  and  laid  out  a 
large  landed  estate  for  himself ;  he  acted  also  as  business 
agent  for  prominent  Eastern  investors  in  Western  lands.  In 
1793  he  chartered  the  town  bearing  his  name;  and  in  1800 
built  the  first  bridge  over  the  river  at  this  place.  He  died  at 
his  home  in  the  village  Aug.  26,  1813.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  building  a  large  stone  house,  which  still  stands 
in  the  borough  of  Connellsville. — ED. 

88  The  British  report  of  this  misadventure  is  given  in  Mich. 
Plon.  CT-  Hist.  Colls.,  ix.  p.  436:  "A  party  from  Fort  Pitt  had 
fallen  on  a  Delaware  Village  and  killed  or  carried  off  eight 
persons,  but  unfortunately  for  the  Rebels  they  have  struck  in 
the  wrong  place  and  have  sent  back  two  squaws  \vho  were 
prisoners  to  atone  for  their  error." — ED. 


THE  SQUAW  CAMPAIGN  221 


[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Col.  David  Shepherd. 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  7th  March,  1778. 

Dr  SIR  —  I  am  just  returned  from  a  short  excursion 
into  the  Indian  Country,  in  which  I  was  prevented  of 
completing  my  views  by  the  badness  of  the  weather  & 
height  of  the  waters.  Except  a  few  gentlemen  from 
about  Stewart's  Crossings,89  &  Some  who  accidentally 
happened  here  from  the  different  parts  of  the  Virginia 


89  Stewart's  Crossings  is  one  of  the  historic  spots  of  Fay- 
ette  County,  Pa.  In  1753  William  Stewart  located  there, 
about  the  same  time  that  Christopher  Gist  built  his  cabin  at 
Mount  Braddock.  Stewart  chose  a  ford  on  the  Youghiogheny 
where  the  old  Catawba  Indian  trail  from  the  Iroquois  country 
crossed  that  river.  Erecting  his  cabin  on  the  southwest  bank 
of  the  stream,  he  lived  on  the  site  of  the  present  village  of 
New  Haven.  That  autumn  Maj.  George  Washington  crossed 
at  this  place,  bearing  the  famous  message  from  Governor 
Dinwiddie  of  Virginia  to  the  French  officers  on  the  upper 
Allegheny.  The  next  year  Washington,  with  his  Virginia 
soldiers,  did  not  advance  as  far  as  Stewart's  Crossings;  but 
his  French  opponent  Sieur  de  Jumonville,  must  have  crossed 
at  this  spot  when  endeavoring  to  gain  information  of  the 
English  situation.  After  the  surrender  of  Fort  Necessity 
(July  4,  1754),  Coulon  de  Villiers,  the  victor,  retired  to  Gist's 
place  and  ordered  all  the  cabins  of  English  settlers  to  be 
burned.  William  Stewart's  home  shared  the  common  fate, 
and  he  retreated  to  the  Eastern  settlements,  leaving  his  name 
attached  to  the  crossing  of  the  Youghiogheny.  Braddock's 
Road  led  over  this  crossing;  but  that  general  himself  forded 
the  stream  (1/55)  a  mile  or  two  below.  In  1765  Col.  William 
Crawford  took  possession  of  the  place.  Thither,  the  next 
year,  he  brought  his  family  and  established  his  permanent 
home.  It  is  to  his  services  that  Hand  here  refers.  On  his 
death  his  son  John  fell  heir  to  the  Stewart  Crossings  estate, 
which  in  1786  he  sold  to  Edward  Cook.  The  latter  sold  to 
Col.  Isaac  Meason,  whose  son  built  a  store  and  in  1796  laid  out 
the  town  of  New  Haven.  The  site  of  Stewart's  Crossings  is 
now  a  busy  one,  leading  to  the  populous  city  of  Connellsville 
on  the  northeast  bank  of  the  stream.  William  Stewart  was 
living  in  1786,  and  testified  to  his  early  occupation  of  this 
site. — ED. 


222         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

frontiers,  the  party  Consisted  of  volunteers  from 
Westmoreland  County.  Many  of  the  Virginia  gentle 
men  seem  to  desire  an  opportunity  of  distinguishing 
themselves  on  a  Similar  occasion,  which  would  in  my 
opinion,  render  much  service  to  the  Country  &  should 
meet  my  hearty  concurrence.  1  therefore  request  that 
you  may  request  that  you  may  endeavor  to  promote  so 
laudable  an  Enterprise.  I  think  that  200  men,  each 
provided  with  a  good  horse  &  two  bushels  of  grain, 
might  in  8  or  10  days  from  this  place  make  a  consider 
able  blow.  If  the  scheme  be  carried  into  execution,  the 
men  should  be  punctual  in  rendezvousing  here  on  the 
1st  of  Next  month.  I  think  so  short  a  trip  would  not 
interfere  with  my  intention  of  drawing  what  assist 
ance  I  can  from  the  frontier  counties  &  penetrating 
the  enemies  country  in  May  writh  a  design  of  taking  a 
larger  circuit;  &  beg  to  know  your  sentiments  on  the 
subject,  &  what  men  I  may  expect  from  your  county 
on  either  occasion.  Any  grain  furnished  will  be  paid 
for,  &  also,  the  horses  by  appraisement  if  lost. 

Eowd  HAND 
To  Col.  David  Shepherd. 


[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  General  Hand.     2U7 — A.  L.  S.] 
FORT  HENRY    March  the  ioth    1778. 

DEAR  SIR — 1  Received  your  favour  By  John  Green 
which  Informed  me  of  your  Safe  arrival  to  fort  Pitt, 
I  am  glad  to  hear  that  our  Neighbours  is  Spirited 
anough  to  turn  out  on  the  Like  occation  and  for  my 
part  I  hartily  Concur  with  you  in  the  Scheme  per- 
possed  and  all  the  people  I  have  Spoke  with  Concern 
ing  it  Join  in  Sentiments  in  favour  of  the  Scheme.  I 
cannot  as  yet  give  you  an  Exact  account  what  Number 


COLONEL  MOSES  SHEPHERD 
From  West  Virginia  Historical  Magazine,  iii,  p.  192 


THE  SQUAW  CAMPAIGN  223 

of  men  I  can  Furnish  you  with,  But  I  have  summoned 
all  the  Capts  in  the  County  to  meet  on  Friday  next  in 
order  to  send  men  to  the  Stations  and  other  purposes 
when  I  Expect  to  give  you  a  better  account.  But  at 
this  time  I  Expect  to  furnish  you  with  30  Men  if  Pos 
sible  against  the  Day  appointed.  I  have  sent  By  Leu1 
Berry  53  Rifles  and  8  Muskets  Likewise  9i5lb  of  lead 
and  there  Remains  in  Store  390  lb.  The  State  of  the 
Store  I  shall  attend  to  and  Do  Every  thing  in  my 
Power  to  Secure  the  Provisions  as  soon  as  I  can  collect 
some  men.  Our  Brave  Beefeaters  time  is  out  and  they 
are  all  Returning  home  to  tell  of  the  great  Exploits 
they  have  Done  on  the  Ohio,  But  I  hope  they  will  send 
us  Better  Men  the  Next  time.  As  for  News  I  have 
None  but  the  people  are  well  pleased  with  our  last 
trip.  Sir  I  am  with  Respect  your  Humble  Servant 

DAVID  SHEPHERD 
Pray  Excuse  this  Scrall. 

To  Brigr  General  Edward  Hand    Fort  Pitt. 
Favour  of  Leut  Berrv. 


DEFENSE  OF  VIRGINIA  FRONTIER 

[Col.    William    Preston   and    Col.    William   Fleming  to    Gov. 
Patrick  Henry.      4QQi63— A.  L.  S.p° 

BOTETOURT.   March  14,  1778. 

SIR — We  had  an  Opportunity  this  day  at  General 
Lewis'  of  considering  the  different  Matters  recom 
mended  to  us  in  Your  Excellency's  Letter  of  the  19th 
of  Feby  last,  and  was  assisted  with  that  Gentleman's 
Opinion.  We  think  it  will  be  necessarv  that  a  Post  of 


90  The  first  part  of  this  letter  is  in  the  handwriting  of 
Colonel  Fleming:  the  latter  part,  in  that  of  Colonel  Preston. 
Both  signatures  are  autograph. — ED. 


224         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Communication  with  F.  Randolph  be  fixed  at  Kellys 
abt  22  Miles  above  the  Mouth  of  Elk,  as  a  place 
proper  for  Checking  the  Inroads  of  the  Indians  as  well 
as  inspiring  the  frontier  Settlers  with  Confidence  and 
affording  them  protection  without  which  we  are 
affraid  the  Inhabitants  will  abandon  that  Settlement 
And  to  answer  the  above  Purposes  we  are  of  opinion 
this  Garrison  ought  to  consist  of  100  Men,  fifty  from 
G.  Brier  &  50  from  Botetourt.  We  offer  it  as  our 
Opinion  that  the  50  men  ordered  to  reinforce  the  Gari- 
son  at  F.  Randolph  may  with  safety  be  drawn  from 
Rockbridge  as  it  is  an  interior  County  not  so  imme 
diately  subjected  to  the  Incursions  of  the  Enemy. 

And  on  considering  the  dangerous  Situation  of 
Montgomery  County,  which  has  a  Frontier  of  up 
wards  of  eighty  Miles,  greatly  exposed  to  the  Enemy 
&  but  thinly  inhabited,  We  Judge  50  men  cannot  be 
spared  as  a  Reinforcement  to  the  Garison  at  F^ort 
Randolph,  but  that  two  or  three  Companies  be  imme 
diately  sent  to  such  places,  as  will  best  secure  the  In 
habitants  from  the  Enemy  and  Encourage  them  to 
continue  which  they  are  now  ready  to  abandon.  For 
the  support  of  the  men  in  provision  at  the  Post  of 
Communication  as  well  as  on  the  Frontiers  of  Mont 
gomery  County  We  think  it  will  be  highly  Necessary 
Commisaries  should  be  appointed  and  furnished  with 
sums  sufficient  for  purpose  as  no  provision  can  be  got 
otherwise.  We  fortunately  had  an  Oppy  of  taking 
Capt  Arbuckle  &  Col  Skillerns  Depositions  relative  to 
the  Murder  of  the  Indians  at  F.  Randolph  which  we 
transmitted  to  yr  Excellency  by  Mr  Barnet.  As  it 
Appears  by  these  Depositions  the  Agressors  live  in 


CORNSTALK'S  MURDER  225 

Augusta.  Rockbridge  and  Greenbrier  Counties,  We 
imagine  you  will  send  Orders  to  the  Commanding  Offi 
cers  of  these  Counties  concerning  them.  As  we  think 
it  would  be  necessary  to  have  a  printed  Copy  of  yr 
Proclamation  for  Apprehending  the  Guilty  &  bringing 
them  to  Justice,  that  it  may  be  transmitted  with  any 
Letter  we  send  by  the  Grenadier  Squaw  to  the  Shaw- 
ness  Nation,  it  may  tend  to  Convince  them  the  Mur 
der  is  had  in  abhorences  by  the  Government  and  give 
an  Authenticity  to  our  Letter.  We  Judge  it  likewise 
necessary  the  state  should  be  prepared  to  treat  with  the 
Indians,  should  a  Conferrence  be  brought  about  by 
this  Means  which  we  are  doubtful  of  as  the  Applica 
tion  is  so  late.  WTe  are  yr  Excellencys  most  obl  Serv1 

Wm  PRESTON 
Wm  FLEMING 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  William  Fleming.      I5ZZ2I — 
A.  L.  S.] 

WmBURGH   March  14th   1778 

DEAR  COL° — Yours  by  Express  came  to  hand  yes 
terday,  &  I  am  much  obliged  by  your  attention  to  the 
several  matters  I  mentioned  to  you.  Please  to  use  the 
public  Amunition  as  you  see  fit,  for  your  Defence. 
Draft  the  men  from  your  County  as  divided  or  undi 
vided  as  is  most  for  the  public  service. 

I  am  really  concerned  at  the  uneasiness  you  express 
from  the  Manner  I  mention'd  the  Death  of  the  In 
dians.  I  know  you  too  well  to  harbour  the  most  dis 
tant  suspicion  that  you  ever  approved  what  is  in  itself 
unworthy.  Much  less  any  thing  glaringly  wrong. 
Believe  me  I  meant  not  the  smallest  censure,  &  I  hope 

15 


226        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

you  will  not  think   I   did.     I  can  give  no  particular 
Orders  for  Kentucki. 

Please  to  march  yr  Drafts  to  Alexandria  Dumfries 
or  George  Town  in  Maryland  &  agree  with  a  Victual 
ler  whom  I  will  pay  on  rec'g  your  certificate.  I  refer 
to  my  proclama"  on  the  subject,  I  am  Sir  Yr  mo. 
Hble  Serv' 

P.  HENRY 

Col.  Wm  Fleming. 


CLARK'S  PREPARATIONS 

[Col.  George  Rogers  Clark  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.    18)69 — 
A.  L.  S.] 

March  15th    1778 

Dr  CAPtn — As  the  time  is  drawing  nigh  that  we 
should  start  for  Kentucky  I  think  it  best  that  we 
should  as  soon  as  possible  get  our  provition  Boats  at 
Whelin  up  the  Monongehaly  in  order  to  take  in  our 
Flour.  I  have  Instructed  the  different  Recruiting  offi 
cers  to  send  some  of  their  men  to  whelin  for  that  pur 
pose  and  hope  that  you  will  get  as  many  of  your 
Company  to  go  as  you  can.  Mr.  Richd  Brashear91 


91  Richard  Brashears  was  a  lieutenant  in  Capt.  William 
Harrod's  company.  Having  accompanied  Clark  on  his  expe 
ditions  to  Kaskaskia  and  Vincennes,  he  was  left  at  the  latter 
place  in  charge  of  the  garrison  from  April  to  August,  1779. 
In  the  latter  month  he  returned  to  Kaskaskia,  and  early  in 
1780  was  one  of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Jefferson.  Returning  to 
Kaskaskia,  in  the  autumn  of  1780  he  married  Ann  Brocus 
[Brooks],  and  with  her  family  emigrated  to  the  Natchez 
country,  for  this  purpose  resigning  from  the  army.  Some 
time  before  his  departure  he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy, 
since  in  that  capacity  he  received  his  share  in  the  Illinois 
grant.  In  1785  he  was  in  Louisville  temporarily,  on  business 
concerning  his  land — see  Draper  MSS.,  i Mi  11-117.  He  made 
his  home  in  Mississippi,  and  died  in  the  southern  part  of  the 


CLARK'S  PREPARATIONS  227 

takes  charge  of  the  party.  I  propose  that  those  that 
go  on  this  Comd  shall  be  subject  to  no  other  duty  untill 
they  get  to  Kentucky. 

My  Dr  Sr  you  know  the  necessity  of  bringing  two 
or  three  boats  up.  I  hope  that  you  will  get  as  many 
as  you  can  to  go.  I  intended  to  have  come  by  your 
house  from  Court  but  our  common  interest  called  me 
another  way.  I  am  Sir  Your  Hbl.  Serv1 

GEO.  R.  CLARK 

N.  B.  I  shall  go  amediately  to  Pittsburgh  &  shant 
Return  under  eight  Days.  G  R  C 

To  Capt.  YV'm  Harrod.    Ten  Mile.     Pr  Mr  Brashears. 


[General  Hand  to  Col.  David  Shepherd.      3NNios — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  22<i  March,  1778 

SIR — Please  to  deliver  three  of  the  Continental  boats 
at  Wheeling  to  the  party  of  [whom]  Col.  Clark  shall 
send  to  receive  them,  and  order  provision  and  ammu 
nition  sufficient  to  bring  them  to  this  place.  I  have 
ordered  Lt.  Berry  to  come  up  at  the  same  time;  be 
sides  the  stores  before  called  for,  send  by  him  all  the 
powder  except  200  Ibs.  to  the  left  at  Fort  Henry.  I  am, 
sir,  yr.  hble.  serv1, 

EDwd.  HAND 
Col.  David  Shepherd. 


state  in  May,  1822,  leaving  one  daughter.     The  Carneys  and 
Xicholls  of  Mississippi  are  his  descendants. — ED. 


228         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

MESSAGE   TO   WHITE  EYES 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  Capt.  White  Eyes.     MS.  in  Carnegie 
Library,  Pittsburgh ;     George  Morgan's  Letter  Book.] 

FORT  PITT   March  20    1778 

BROTHER  CAP1  WHITE  EYES — Agreeable  to  the  let 
ters  I  sent  you  some  days  ago  I  flatter'd  myself  with 
seeing  you  and  some  others  of  your  Wisemen  here 
very  soon  but  unhappily  the  Messenger  took  sick  and 
returned  to  this  Place.  He  is  now  recovered  and  I 
send  him  to  you  and  to  call  on  Cap1  Pipe  in  his  Way 
with  Micheykapeecci  the  old  Delaware  Woman  who 
was  taken  at  Beaver  Creek  and  also  the  Young 
Munsey  Woman.  I  hope  you  will  use  your  Interest 
to  bring  Cap1  Pipe  and  other  Wisemen  here  that  we 
may  renew  and  strengthen  our  Ancient  Friendship. 

Two  Wisemen  are  arrived  from  Virginia  tho  not 
the  same  I  mentioned  to  you  as  they  were  detained  by 
unavoidable  Bussiness.92  Be  strong  Brother  and  let 
us  bear  down  the  evil  Spirit.  I  shall  now  be  stronger 
than  ever  and  I  desire  you  be  so  too. 

GEORGE  MORGAN 

[The  Commissioners  to  Capt.  White  Eyes.     Source,  same  as 

preceding  document.] 
PITTSBURGH   March  [blank  in  MS.]     1778. 
CAPTAIN  WHITE  EYES — The  Messenger  sent  by  Mr: 
Clymer  &  Colonel  Morgan  about  [blank  in  MS.]  days 


92  Two  of  the  commissioners  chosen  by  Congress  (Samuel 
Washington  and  Gabriel  Jones — ante,  p.  198,  note  70)  having 
refused  to  serve,  Sampson  Matthews  and  Samuel  McDowell 
were  chosen  by  the  governor  of  Virginia,  and  accepted  by 
Congress — see  Jour,  of  Cong,  (new  ed.),  x,  p.  IQI.  For 
Matthews,  see  Dunmore's  War,  p.  223,  note  54;  for  McDowell, 
Ibid,  p.  25,  note  41. — ED. 


MESSAGE  TO  WHITE  EYES  229 

ago  falling  sick  upon  the  Road  was  obliged  to  return 
here,  by  which  Accident  you  were  unhappily  prevented 
from  hearing  sooner  of  the  good  disposition  of  Con 
gress  towards  the  Delaware  Nation,  but  as  he  is  now 
well  again,  We  who  are  all  the  Commissioners  ap 
pointed  by  Congress  send  him  back  to  your  Nation 
with  a  confirmation  of  every  thing  that  is  said  in  the 
former  Message.  And  to  give  further  assurance  of 
the  good  intentions  of  Congress  he  takes  with  him 
[blank  in  MS.]  the  Delaware  Woman  taken  by  our 
People  that  she  may  be  restored  to  her  Friends.  The 
other  Woman  taken  with  her  being  a  Munsey  is  in  our 
possession  &  is  well  treated.  We  shall  stay  here  long 
enough  to  give  an  opportunity  for  you  &  the  other 
wise  Men  to  visit  us  at  Pittsburgh,  in  consequence  of 
the  invitation  already  given,  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a 
Treaty  of  Peace  with  your  Nation  &  all  other  Indians 
who  incline  to  have  our  Friendship  &  good  Will,  but 
as  we  wish  to  go  home  to  our  Wives  and  Children  who 
are  a  great  way  off,  we  hope  you  will  lose  no  time  in 
coming  with  the  Messenger.  We  are  Your  Friends 
&  Servts : 

SAMP.  MATHEWS 
GEO.  CLYMER 
SAM'  :   Mc :  DOWELL 


230        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

AMERICAN   SPY  AT   DETROIT 

[Daniel  Sullivan's  deposition.     Source,  same  as  preceding 
document.] 

FORT  PITT   March  2Oth    1778. 
To  Colonel  John  Cannon^ 

SIR — Agreeable  to  my  Contract  with  you  in  behalf 
of  the  State  of  Virginia,  I  proceeded  to  the  Indian 
Country  in  February  1777  and  return'd  to  this  place 
in  March  when  I  gave  you  an  Ace1 :  of  such  intelli 
gence  as  I  had  obtained.  I  immediately  returned  to 
the  Indian  Country  in  order  to  attend  at  all  the  Coun 
cils  of  the  Different  Nations,  to  inform  myself  of  their 
dispositions  and  designs  and  to  obtain  the  knowledge 
of  every  other  Matter  mention'd  in  my  agreement. 

I  tarried  among  the  Delawares  and  at  Guyahaga 
untill  the  19th  of  April.  During  my  Stay  among  them 
the  Delawares  and  Munsies  appear'd  perfectly  dis 
posed  for  Peace  with  the  United  States — they  shew'd 
every  good  Disposition  for  that  purpose.  At  Guya 
haga  I  met  with  a  few  Chipwas,  Ottawas,  Wiandots 
and  Mingoes  about  Twenty  in  Number.  The  white 
Mingoe  was  also  there  on  his  Way  from  Pluggys 
Town  to  Niagara.  I  could  make  no  new  Discovery 
here  of  any  Consequence.  A  Message  arrived  at 
Kuskuskias  from  the  Sennecas  to  the  Delawares  desir 
ing  them  to  sit  still  and  plant  their  Corn,  and  inform 
ing  them  they  should  go  now  and  then  to  visit  their 
White  Brethern.  I  could  not  discover  that  any  of  the 
other  Nations  had  determined  in  Council  to  carry  on 
a  War  against  our  Frontiers  except  the  Mingoes  of 


93  For  a  sketch  of  this  officer,  see  Rev.  U  pper  Ohio,  p.  221, 
note  63. — ED. 


REPORT  OF  A  SPY  231 

Pluggys  Town  but  I  apprehended  they  did  not  appear 
to  be  over  friendly. 

At  Guyahaga  were  two  Traders  with  Stores  of 
Indian  Goods  and  a  Cargo  arrived  there  the  :8th:  of 
April  from  Detroit,  the  19th  I  hired  myself  agreeable 
to  Col.  Morgans  directions  to  James  Howel  to  Serve 
as  a  Batteau  Man  to  go  to  Detroit  with  Peltries  and  to 
bring  away  other  Goods.  We  were  eight  days  coasting 
it  to  Detroit.  On  my  arrival  I  assisted  to  unload  the 
Boat  and  then  was  conducted  to  Governor  Hamilton 
in  my  Indian  dress  who  enquired  who  I  was  and  my 
Business.  I  inform'd  him  that  I  had  been  taken  pris 
oner  when  young  by  the  Delawares,  that  nine  years 
afterward  Viz*  in  1772  or  3.  I  went  to  live  with  my 
Relations  in  Virginia  but  the  present  War  coming  on 
between  Britain  and  America  and  having  no  way  but 
by  my  Gun  to  maintain  myself  I  had  removed  back  to 
my  Delaware  Relations  and  determined  to  live  with 
them  untill  I  could  do  better.  That  I  had  hired  with 
a  Trader  at  Guyahaga  to  assist  him  with  his  Peltries 
to  Detroit  in  order  to  enable  me  to  buy  some  Powder 
and  Lead  to  hunt.  After  asking  me  some  Questions 
touching  the  Strength  of  Fort  Pitt  and  other  Posts  on 
the  Ohio,  the  Governor  dismiss'd  me  and  told  me  to  go 
where  I  pleased  and  he  would  be  me  Friend.  One 
Mp  Tucker94  an  Interpreter  for  Governor  Hamilton  of 
the  Chipwa  and  Ottawa  Tongues  took  me  home  to  his 
house  and  treated  me  very  kindly.  And  his  Wife  who 
was  born  in  Hampshire  County  Virginia  and  had  lived 
at  my  Sisters  told  me  that  Governor  Hamilton  did  all 


94  For  this  interpreter,  see  Ibid,  p.  203,  note  44. — ED. 


232         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

in  his  Power  to  induce  all  Nations  of  Indians  to  mas 
sacre  the  Frontier  Inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  and  paid  very  high  prices  in  Goods  for  the 
Scalps  the  Indians  brought  in.  That  he  likewise  pays 
for  Prisoners  but  does  not  redeem  them  from  the 
Savages  and  says  he  will  not  do  it  untill  the  Expira 
tion  of  the  present  Warr.  I  Slept  at  Mr  Tuckers  and 
the  next  day  went  to  walk  through  the  Fort  and  Town 
and  then  walk'd  round  the  Common.  In  this  Tour 
Pluggys  Son  discover'd  me  and  applied  to  the  Gover 
nor  to  have  me  confined  on  Accou  of  my  having  in  the 
Fall  of  1776  kill'd  his  Brother  in  law  near  the  Ken- 
hawa.  John  Montour  seconded  this  Information  and 
as  a  Proof  referr'd  to  the  wound  I  received  in  my  left 
Arm  at  the  time.96  I  was  therefore  sent  for  by  Govr 
Hamilton  and  committed  to  the  Guard,  loaded  with 
Irons,  Hand  and  Feet  and  in  seventeen  days  was  sent 
to  Niagara  and  from  thence  to  Montreal  and  Quebec. 
At  Montreal  my  Irons  were  taken  off.  I  embark VI  at 
Quebec  about  the  Ist  day  of  November  for  New  York 
where  I  arrived  the  2Oth  of  December  and  having 
given  a  Parole  I  was  set  at  Liberty  or  rather  sent  from 
the  22d  to  General  Putnams  head  Quarters.  I  am  sat 
isfied  with  the  truth  of  Mrs  Tuckers  Information  and 
this  is  all  I  think  myself  at  Liberty  to  say.  The  two 
Horses  which  I  received  from  you  together  with  my 
Gun,  Paint  and  a  Shirt  which  I  have  charged  you  I 
left  with  Mamaltese  at  the  Delaware  Towns  to  take 
Care  of,  the  Tomhawk  I  left  with  Mr  Tucker.  I  doubt 
not  but  you  will  think  it  just  I  should  be  paid  for 


95  Possibly  this  is  the  event  described  by  Arbuckle  in  his 
letter  of  Nov.  2,  1776:  Ibid,  p.  211. — ED. 


REPORT  OF  A  SPY  233 

them.  I  omitted  to  mention  that  I  was  hurried  off 
from  Detroit  on  Ace1  of  the  Delawares  being  deter 
mined  to  have  me  released.  If  the  Honble  Speaker 
and  House  of  Delegates  of  Virginia  shall  think  proper 
to  make  me  any  Compensation  for  my  Suffering  in 
their  Service,  I  shall  receive  it  with  gratefull  acknowl 
edgements,  and  if  they  think  proper  to  have  me  ex 
changed  or  get  me  released  from  my  Parole,  I  shall  be 
ready  and  I  think  I  should  have  it  in  my  Power  to 
render  essential  Service  to  the  States  under  the  Direc 
tion  of  Col°  Morgan  as  I  think  the  Delawares  have 
always  been  and  Still  are  well  disposed  for  Peace, 
Unless  the  late  unfortunate  affair  at  Beaver  Creek  and 
the  other  Murders  Committed  at  Fort  Pitt  last  Sum 
mer  has  sour'd  their  Mind.  I  am  Sir  Yours  &c 

DANIEL  SuLLivAN96 
YOUHIOGANIA  COUNTY   PITTSBURGH 

Personally  appear'd  Daniel  Sullivan  this  2ist  day  of 
March  1778  before  me  John  Campbell  One  of  the  Jus 
tices  of  the  Peace  for  said  County  who  being  duly 
sworn  deposeth  and  saith  that  the  forgoing  Letter 
directed  to  Col°  John  Cannon  and  sign'd  by  the  said 
Daniel  Sullivan,  contains  a  just  and  true  relation  of 
the  Matters  and  things  therin  mention'd,  and  further 
saith  not. 

DANIEL  SULLIVAN 

Sworn  to  &  subscribed  by  the  said  Daniel  Sullivan  the  day 
&  year  above  mentioned  before  me  JOHN  CAMPBELL 


96  Nothing  more  is  known  of  Daniel  Sullivan's  early  life 
than  is  narrated  in  this  document.  He  was  at  Louisville  in 
1780  where  he  platted  some  of  its  lots,  and  founded  a  station 
in  Jefferson  County.  In  1782,  while  going  as  express  to  Fort 
Pitt  from  Kentucky,  he  was  present  at  the  siege  of  Wheeling 


234        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

CONCILIATING   THE   SHAWNEE 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  Shawnee  chiefs.      Source,  same  as 
preceding  document.] 

PITTSBURGH    March  25th   1778 

Wapeymachickthe*1  to  the  Chiefs  &  Warriors  of  the 
Shawnese  Nation 

BROTHERS— When  I  look  toward  you  or  at  the 
Kenawa  River  I  am  ashamed  of  the  Conduct  of  our 
young  foolish  Men.  formerly  I  was  ashamed  of  the 
Conduct  of  your  young  men.  Now  I  see  there  are 
foolish  people  among  all  Nations.  Our  Wise  men  are 
ashamed  and  sorry  for  what  has  happen'd  and  our 
Warriors  declare  themselves  in  like  manner.  For  this 
Reason  Brothers,  I  now  send  Swatswih98  to  tell  you 


and  therein  wounded.  In  1785  he  removed  to  Vincennes,  and 
was  in  some  way  connected  with  Clark's  expedition  of  1786. 
in  1790  he  was  killed  by  Indians  near  Vincennes.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  "very  stout  and  very  brave  and  every  inch  a 
soldier" — Draper  MSS.,  i3CCi2i. — ED. 

97  This    was     Col.     George     Morgan's    Shawnee    name,     as 
Taimenend  was  his  Delaware  cognomen. — ED. 

98  The  Indian  name  of  James  Girty,  who  was  the  messenger 
employed  on  this  occasion.     James  Girty  was  born  in  1743  in 
Pennsylvania,    captured   at   the   age   of   thirteen,    and   carried 
with  all  his  family  to  the  Indian  town  at  Kittanning.     During 
Armstrong's    raid    the    Girty    boys    were    removed    from    the 
vicinity,  but  were  soon  brought  back  and  parcelled  out  among 
the  tribes.     While  Simon  went  to  the  Seneca,  and  George  to 
the  Delawares,  James  was  carried  to  the  Shawnee  towns  and 
there    resided    for    about    three    years.     After   the    treaty    of 
Easton    (1759)    he  was  returned  to  the  settlements  and  lived 
in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Pitt,  being  employed  as  a  laborer  and 
occasionally  getting  an    opportunity  to   interpret    for  traders. 
In    March,    1778,    lie    was    employed    by    the    commissioners 
then  at  Fort  Pitt  to  carry  a  message  to  the  Shawnee,  in  ex 
tenuation  of  the  murder  of  their  chief,  and  to  persuade  them 
to  keep  the  peace.     McKec  and  the  escaping  Loyalists  found 
James  Girty  at  Old  Chillicothe,  and  easily  persuaded  him  to 
join  their  party.     He  did  not  arrive  at  Detroit  until  August. 


LETTER  TO  THE  SHAWNEE  235 

not  to  think  hard  of  it.  I  know  that  the  wicked 
Mingoes  and  Wiandots  have  occasioned  the  loss  of 
your  People  at  Kenhawa.  They  came  and  kilFd  some 
of  our  People  whilst  yours  were  in  the  Fort  on  pur 
pose  to  have  them  hurt.  I  therefore  desire  you  not  to 
think  hard  of  the  white  people  there.  Strings  of 
Wampum 

Brothers  Now  Listen  to  what  the  great  Council  of 
the  United  States,  say  to  you.  Open  your  Ears  that 
you  may  hear  and  your  hearts  that  you  may  under 
stand  them.  It  is  as  follows 

Brothers  the  Shawnese  It  gave  us  great  joy  to  hear 
by  our  Agent  Mr  Morgan  that  you  appear  to  be  re 
solved  to  hold  fast  our  Friendship.  We  have  received 
all  your  Speeches  and  what  you  said  at  the  Treaty  last 
Summer.  Your  Words  please  us  very  much  and  so 
long  as  your  actions  correspond  you  may  depend  on 


He  was  then  taken  into  British  pay,  and  made  interpreter  for 
the  Shawnee.  He  led  out  his  first  party  against  the  American 
settlements  in  Kentucky,  in  the  autumn  of  1778.  Thence  until 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  he  was  in  active  service,  recon- 
noitering  (1779)  toward  Ouiatanon  at  the  time  of  Clark's 
expected  expedition,  and  accompanying  that  of  Bird  to  Ken 
tucky  (1780).  In  the  summer  of  the  latter  year  he  was  at 
the  Shawnee  towns  when  they  were  raided  by  Clark.  In  1782 
he  was  among  the  forces  that  defeated  Crawford,  and  in  the 
Shawnee  towns  he  informed  against  Slover.  In  the  autumn 
of  1782,  while  his  brothers  were  with  Caldwell  in  Kentucky, 
James  Girty  was  with  the  Indian  party  that  besieged  Wheel 
ing.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolution  he  established  a  trading 
house  at  St.  Mary's  on  the  Maumee,  at  a  place  later  known 
as  Girty's  Town.  On  the  approach  of  Harmar  (1790)  he 
removed  to  Auglaize,  and  finally  (1704)  retreated  before 
Wayne  to  Detroit,  and  then  to  Canada.  There  he  had  a  grant 
of  land  (1807)  in  the  township  of  Gosfield,  whither  he  retired. 
Too  infirm  from  rheumatism  to  take  part  in  the  War  of 
1812-15,  he  died  at  his  farm,  April  5,  1817. — ED. 


236        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

our  Friendship  and  we  are  determined  to  give  you 
every  Proof  thereof  in  our  Power. 

Brothers  We  are  sorry  to  hear  what  has  happen'd 
at  the  Kenhawa.  It  has  been  owing  to  foolish  wicked 
People  and  they  shall  suffer.  We  therefore  desire  you 
will  not  think  hard  of  your  White  Brothers  there  on 
that  Acco".  but  impute  the  Loss  of  your  Friends  to  the 
Wicked  Mingoes  &  Wiandots  who  came  and  killed 
some  of  our  People  near  the  Fort  whilst  yours  were 
there  on  purpose  to  have  them  knock'd  on  the  Head. 
You  know  there  are  foolish  people  among  all  nations. 

Brothers  We  desire  to  give  you  full  Satisfaction 
for  the  wicked  Murder  committed  on  your  Chiefs  and 
young  Men  at  the  Kenhawa.  Therefore  and  in  order 
to  convince  you  that  our  Intentions  are  good  and  that 
we  are  resolved  to  clear  the  Road  between  us  and  to 
destroy  all  the  Briars  and  Thorns  which  have  grown 
therein,  We  have  named  three  Wise  Men  to  repair  to 
Fort  Pitt  to  consult  with  you  for. that  purpose  And  we 
desire  that  you  will  appoint  a  few  of  your  Chiefs  to 
meet  them  there  and  whatever  your  Wise  Men  and 
ours  agree  to,  let  each  of  us  resolve  shall  bind  our 
People  so  that  our  Friendship  may  endure  forever. 

Brothers  Consider  well  what  we  have  proposed  to 
you  and  let  nothing  Prevent  your  coming,  even  though 
your  young  Men  in  their  Anger  for  the  Loss  of  their 
Friends  may  have  done  us  mischief.  What  we  ask  is 
to  renew  our  Ancient  Agreements  and  to  put  our 
Freindship  on  such  a  footing  that  our  peace  may  never 
be  interrupted.  Tell  us  plainly  whether  you  will  or 
will  not  come  as  we  desire,  let  us  know  your  Minds 
for  we  shall  consider  your  Answer  as  the  Messenger 


LETTER  TO  THE  SHAWNEE 

of  Peace  or  War  and  prepare  ourselves  accordingly. 
We  wish  to  live  in  Peace  with  you  and  with  all  Indian 
Nations  and  we  desire  to  give  you  satisfaction  for  the 
foolish  Conduct  of  our  young  Men  at  the  Kenhawa. 
Therefore  Brothers  if  you  wish  for  Peace  as  we  do  we 
desire  that  you  will  send  some  of  your  Wise  Men  as 
already  mentiond  that  the  Fears  of  your  and  our 
WTomen  and  Children  may  be  done  away  and  we  prom 
ise  you  shall  Not  have  reason  to  be  sorry  for  their 
coming  Belt  of  Wampum 

Now  Brothers  You  have  heard  the  Voice  of  our 
great  Council.  Our  three  Wise  men  are  arrived  here. 
I  therefore  tell  you  to  rise  quickly  and  let  nothing  pre 
vent  your  coming  here.  You  know  I  never  deceived 
you,  therefore  you  may  now  beleive  me.  And  with 
this  Belt  I  clear  the  Road  &c  &c  A  Road  Belt. 

WAPEYMACHICKTHE 

To  the  Chiefs  and  Warriers  of  the  Shawnese  Nation— 
We  join  with  Colonel  Morgan  in  our  Wishes  that 
the  antient  agreement  between  us  which  we  fear  has 
been  interrupted  by  unhappy  Accidents  may  be  re 
newed  with  Sincerity  on  both  Sides.  And  we  unite 
with  him  in  the  Invitation  given  in  the  name  of  Con 
gress,  who  have  sent  us  here,  to  come  to  Fort  Pitt  to 
establish  a  Peace,  but  we  hope  you  will  come  quickly 
as  we  shall  stay  no  longer  than  will  be  sufficient  for 
you  to  make  the  Journey." 

Deliver'd  to  James  Girty  i  pr :  broad  Arm  Bands  6  Hair 
Plates  6  doz :  Broaches,  i  Stroud  i  pr :  Leggings  I  large 
Silver  Cross  18  Silver  Rings  i  Callico  Shirt  i  Conk  Shell 


99  This  portion  of  the  document  was  intended  for  the  sig 
nature  of  the  commissioners. — ED. 


238        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

REPORT  OF   COMMISSIONERS 

[Commissioners  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     3NN2I-23 — 
Transcript.] 

SIR — As  under  the  present  circumstances  of  things, 
immediate  recourse  can  be  had  to  the  Militia  alone 
for  the  defence  of  this  country  against  the  incursions 
of  the  Indians :  In  the  several  conferences  with  you 
we  have  agreed  to  the  following  arrangement  to  take 
place  until  a  plan  which  we  shall  recommend  to  Con 
gress  can  be  approved  of  &  carried  into  execution. 

For  Westmoreland  150  men,  that  is,  30  to  be  added 
to  Capt.  Moorhead's  company,  &  120  to  be  disposed  of 
for  the  protection  of  the  county  as  shall  be  thought 
proper.  This  county  to  furnish  the  whole  number  for 
these  Services,  &  also  to  find  the  necessary  relief. 

For  Yohogania  150  men,  that  is,  30  for  the  town  of 
Pittsburgh.  &  120  for  general  service.  The  first  draft 
to  be  made  in  the  county. 

For  Ohio  150  men,  that  is,  50  for  the  garrison  of 
Fort  Henry,  &  TOO  for  more  general  Service:  The  50 
to  be  Supplied  by  Hampshire— 20  from  Yohogania  & 
30  from  Monongolia,  for  the  last  mentioned  Service ; 
the  remaining  50,  to  be  furnished  by  the  county  of 
Ohio.  The  reliefs  for  the  three  counties  of  Yohogania. 
Monongolia  &  Ohio,  to  come  from  the  interior  coun 
ties  of  Berkley,  Frederick,  Shenandore,  &  Hampshire. 

For  the  frontiers  of  Augusta,  150  men  to  be  drawn 
from  that  county  &  Rockingham. 

For  Fort  Randolph  50  men  from  Bottetourt  &  Rock- 
bridge. 

For  Greenbriar,  150  Men,  of  which  TOO  from  that 
county,  &  50  from  Bottetourt.  Bottetourt  to  relieve  its 


DRAFT  OF  MILITIA  239 

own  Militia,  but  Rockbridge  to  relieve  that  of 
Greenbriar. 

For  Montgomery  &  Washington,  a  number  not  ex 
ceeding  300;  these  counties  to  furnish  the  first 
draughts  as  well  as  the  reliefs. 

Bedford  being  already  provided  for,  is  not  included 
in  this  arrangement. 

With  respect  to  the  relieving  counties,  we  think  in 
the  requisitions  made  for  that  purpose,  that  regard 
should  be  had  to  their  comparative  strength  as  it  ap 
pears  in  the  act  regulating  the  draughts  lately  passed 
by  the  Legislature  of  Virginia.  The  militia  act  of 
Pennsylvania  limits  the  Service  of  its  Militia  to  two 
months,  but  we  think  it  would  be  proper  your  requisi 
tions  on  Virginia  should  be  for  three  months. 

This  is  the  general  plan  agreed  on,  but  as  many  cir 
cumstances  may  arise  which  should  occasion  an  altera 
tion  with  regard  to  the  force  to  be  employed  in  the 
different  counties,  as  well  as  the  requisitions  to  be 
made,  we  do  not  wish  you  should  be  strictly  confined 
to  it,  but  think  it  extremely  proper  you  should  in  these 
matters  use  your  discretion,  &  deviate  from  it  where 
necessity  seems  to  require  it,  &  the  public  cause  served 
by  it.  We  wish  if  practicable  that  instead  of  militia 
called  out  in  the  ordinary  way,  who  are  with  difficulty 
brought  to  consider  themselves  soldiers,  &  will  fre 
quently  abandon  the  most  important  enterprise  in  the 
moment  of  execution  when  their  terms  of  service  are 
about  expiring,  that  you  engage  an  equal  number  of 
volunteers  to  Serve  for  a  longer  time  than  can  be 
expected  or  required  of  militia.  The  latter  mode  of 
protecting  the  country  would,  we  believe,  not  only  be 


240         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

more  effectual,  but  more  economical.     We  are,   Sir, 

Your  Most  obed1  humble  Servts, 

SAM  MATHEWS, 
GEO.  CLYMER, 

SAML  MCDOWELL. 
Brig.  Gen1.  Hand. 


MURDERERS   OF   CORNSTALK 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  William  Preston  and  Col. 
William  Fleming.      I5ZZ23 — A.  L.  S.] 

WmSBURGH   Mar  27h    1778. 

GENTLEMEN — As  you  prefer  Kellys  for  the  new 
post,  please  to  order  one  hundred  men  officer'd  in  the 
usual  Manner  to  do  Duty  there  in  the  Way  most  likely 
to  answer  a  good  purpose,  during  such  time  as  the 
safety  of  the  Frontiers  shall  require.  Fifty  of  these 
men  are  to  be  drawn  from  Botetourt  &  the  other  fifty 
from  Green  Bryar.  I  order  the  fifty  men  from  Rock- 
bridge  to  Fort  Randolph  which  you  advise.  Mont 
gomery  need  not  send  any  if  you  judge  it  best,  to  that 
post.  Let  the  men  necessary  to  defend  Montgomery 
be  embodied  &  properly  stationed.  I  send  one  thou 
sand  pounds  cash  by  Mr  Neilly  to  put  into  the  Hands 
of  such  commissary  as  you  shall  Appoint.  He  ought 
to  give  Bond  &  Security  to  account  for  this  or  more 
money  which  may  be  given  him  to  conduct  that  Busi 
ness. 

I  send  some  printed  proclamations  against  the  Mur 
derers  of  the  Indians,  please  to  distribute  some  to  the 
countys  most  proper,  &  send  others  to  the  Indians, 
with  whom  I  ardently  wish  a  Treaty.  Will  you  please 
to  tell  me  what  preparations  you  judge  best  to  make 
in  order  to  facilitate  this  work  of  peace?  For  indeed 


LETTER  TO  THE  DELAWARES  241 

the  Injustice  of  pursuing  by  offensive  £  vigorous 
Measures,  those  whom  by  our  Injustice  have  been  pro 
voked  to  Hostility,  is  too  striking  &  shocks  me.  I  am 
Genl*  Yr  mo.  hhble  Serv'  p 

To  Colos  Wm  Preston  &  Fleming 


RELATIONS  WITH  DELAWARES 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  the  Delaware  chiefs.    MS.  in  Carnegie 
Library,  Pittsburgh;    George  Morgan's  Letter  Book.] 

FORT  PITT   March  27th.  1778. 
The  United  States  of  America  to  their  wise  Brethren 

of  the  Delaware  Council 

BROTHERS — It  made  my  Heart  glad  to  see  your  Mes 
sengers,  and  to  receive  your  Letter.  You  have  now 
made  me  stronger  than  I  was  before.  All  our  People 
rejoice  at  this  fresh  testimony  of  your  Friendship. 

Brothers  What  you  say  convinces  me  that  the 
great  &  good  Spirit  has  directed  you  in  your  Councils. 
Your  determinations  are  wise,  and  I  desire  you  to  con 
tinue  strong  in  good  works.  The  Tempest  will  be  over 
in  a  few  Months.  You  will  then  enjoy  the  Sweets  of 
Peace,  whilst  your  restless  Neighbours  are  suffering 
the  Punishment  due  to  their  evil  Deeds.  I  know  who 
they  are,  and  every  one  of  them  shall  suffer,  except  it 
be  such  as  our  wise  Brethern  the  Delawares  desire  us 
to  have  pity  on.  I  therefore  hope  they  will  bury  the 
Hatchet  and  accept  the  friendship  I  still  offer  to  them, 
before  it  be  too  late.  The  foolish  Lake  Indians  are 
the  Slaves  of  their  pretended  Father,  they  are  afraid 
of  him,  or  I  think  they  would  not  act  so  foolish,  for 
this  reason  and  because  their  wicked  Father  at  Detroit 


242         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Niagara  £c,  has  put  evil  into  the  minds  of  our  foolish 
Brethren,  you  will  see  him  sunk  from  the  place  he  is  in, 
never  more  to  be  heard  of.  I  tell  you  Brothers  you 
will  see  this.  What  will  then  become  of  his  foolish 
Children  who  still  refuse  to  hearken  to  the  wise  Dela 
ware  Council.  1  wish  to  save  them  Brothers  if  it  be 
possible,  if  you  can  assist  me  therein,  I  shall  leave 
the  method  to  you,  and  whatever  the  wise  Delaware 
Council  do,  or  whatever  they  agree  to  with  the  \Vian- 
dots  &c,  it  shall  bind  me ;  provided  they  immediately 
leave  off  their  foolish  conduct,  &  prove  themselves  to 
be  our  Friends. 

Brothers  T  am  much  pleased  to  hear  that  three 
Wise  Chiefs  of  the  Shawnese  have  come  to  live  with 
you,  and  that  a  number  of  their  People  are  inclined  to 
sit  down  by  their  Grandfathers,  and  hold  fast  to  our 
friendship  as  I  desired  them  when  I  sent  the  Token  to 
Coitcheleh  last  Fall,  and  in  my  Speeches  last  Summer. 
I  desire  you  will  encourage  them  all  in  your  power  to 
this  good  work,  and  that  you  may  be  like  one  strong 
Man  in  your  Councils,  to  promote  the  good  of  your 
young  Men,  Women  and  Children. 

Brothers  \  thank  you  for  sending  me  the  Papers 
which  the  Governor  of  Detroit  sent  to  you,  and  your 
Grandchildren.  He  no  doubt  thought  by  his  promises 
of  Cloathing  &c  to  make  Fools  of  the  wise  Deln- 
wares — but  he  is  mistaken. 

Brothers  1  have  no  Cloathing  at  this  present  time 
to  give  to  you,  tho'  I  see  you  have  occasion  of  them, 
but  your  wants  shall  be  all  supplied  by  and  by,  as  they 
have  heretofore  been.  I  do  not  want  you  to  carry 
Papers  and  to  kill,  Men,  Women,  or  Children,  like  the 


LETTER  TO  THE  DELA WARES  243 

Governor  of  Detroit  does,  because  he  is  not  able  to  do 
it  himself.  I  do  not  want  you  to  get  hurt  in  my  Quar 
rel.  What  I  want  of  you  is  to  live  in  Peace  and 
Friendship  with  me  as  Brothers  ought  to  do,  and  to 
take  care  of  your  young  Men,  your  Women  and  Chil 
dren — this  is  what  we  desire  of  all  Indian  Nations. 
And  this  very  Paper  will  be  brought  as  a  Witness 
against  all  those  who  may  hereafter  continue  to  act  as 
the  Servants  of  the  Governor  of  Detroit. 

Brothers  I  have  already  told  you  of  the  great  suc 
cess  of  our  Armies  toward  the  Sea,  and  of  General 
Burgoyne,  and  all  his  Army  being  made  Prisoners  by 
General  Gates.  This  I  now  confirm.  And  you  may 
depend  I  shall  be  able  to  give  you  some  more  good 
News  the  ensuing  summer. 

Brothers  I  refer  you  for  other  matters  to  my 
Messages  lately  sent  to  you  and  to  our  Brothers  the 
Shawnese.  I  now  confirm  them  and  I  desire  you  will 
consider  this  as  directed  to  you  and  to  your  Grand 
children  jointly.  Our  wise  Men  wait  here  to  see  you, 
therefore  make  no  delay.  I  have  taken  good  care  of 
your  Messengers,  but  have  nothing  more  to  give  them 
than  plenty  of  good  Victuals,  Drink  &  Tobacco. 

I  desire  you  will  aid  and  assist  my  Messenger  to  the 
Shawnese  at  Miami  all  in  your  power.  I  shall  be  re 
joiced  to  have  all  your  Grandchildren  behave  like  wise 
People,  and  I  beg  you  will  give  them  good  Council  and 
assist  them  in  taking  care  of  their  young  Men,  their 
Women  and  Children. 

TATMENEND 


244         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

[Col.   George  Morgan  to   Zeisberger.      Source,  same  as  pre 
ceding  document.] 

FORT  PITT   March  27th.  1778. 
To  The  Revd;  Mr:  David  Zeisberger, 

DEAR  SIR — Just  after  I  had  sent  James  Girty  and 
his  Wife  off  with  the  Message  to  the  Shawnese  which 
he  will  shew  to  you,  the  Delaware  Messengers  arrived 
to  my  very  great  Joy. 

I  have  sent  your  Packet  down  to  Lancaster  to  Col° : 
Nevill  who  left  this  yesterday.  I  lately  forwarded  to 
you  two  Letters  from  your  Friends  below.  I  have  not 
heard  from  thence  lately  nor  have  I  any  News  of  im 
portance  to  communicate  to  you. 

General  Burgoyne  and  all  his  Army  are  at  Boston 
detain'd  as  Prisoners  of  War.  1  think  our  Affairs 
below  are  in  a  good  way  and  hope  this  Summer  will 
put  an  end  to  the  Contest.  We  shall  open  the  Cam 
paign  with  greater  advantages  than  ever. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  you  have  been  so 
quiet  the  last  Winter  and  that  you  have  hopes  the  en 
suing  Summer  will  not  be  so  bad  as  the  past. 

It  rejoices  me  exceedingly  to  hear  that  Cap*.  Pipe, 
Cap1.  White  Eyes,  Cap1.  Killbuck,  and  all  the  other 
wise  Delaware  Chiefs  resolve  to  remain  our  Friends. 
Were  it  not  from  the  hope  of  promoting  Peace  I  would 
not  stay  here  a  moment. 

I  wish  to  God  our  mutual  endeavours  may  be  bless'd 
with  success.  For  my  own  part  I  wish  no  other  re 
ward  than  to  render  service  &  to  promote  the  Peace 
&  happiness  of  the  Indian  Nations  &  the  United 
States.  Both  have  placed  great  confidence  in  me  and  I 
never  will  deceive  either.  I  am  with  great  respect  &c 

[GEORGE  MORGAN] 


ENGAGING  VOLUNTEERS         245 

REPORTS  FROM  FORT  HENRY 

[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  General  Hand.     2U8— A.  L.  S.] 
FORT  HENRY   March  the  28th    1778. 

SIR — Agreable  to  your  order  of  the  22d  of  this  In 
stant  I  have  Drafted  fifty  of  the  Militia  of  our  County 
&  have  the  most  part  of  them  on  the  Stations,  there  is 
some  of  them  I  am  forced  to  use  such  Meashures  with 
as  is  Disagrable  to  me,  accotioned  by  some  Disaffected 
people  in  our  County.  I  have  likewise  Drafted  ten 
Men  out  of  our  County  for  the  Regular  Service  and 
Expect  to  Have  them  Ready  in  a  few  Days  to  Deliver 
to  you  or  any  person  properly  authorised  for  that  Pur 
pose  as  we  are  so  far  from  the  seat  of  Government.  I 
would  be  glad  to  know  of  you  what  would  be  best  to 
Do  with  them  as  they  Might  be  usefull  in  your  Depart 
ment.  I  have  Engaged  some  Volunteers  to  go  on  the 
Expedition  you  formerly  mentioned  to  me  against  the 
first  of  aprill  and  have  ordered  them  to  be  at  Pitt 
against  that  time.  But  I  fear  the  Murder  Done  at 
Dunker  Creek1  will  prevent  some  of  them  and  the 
Proper  Supplies  not  havin  Come  to  our  assistance 
from  the  other  Counties,  We  are  Very  Busy  in  hang 
ing  and  Drying  the  Pork  in  Store,  But  men  having 
such  an  aversion  to  work  makes  it  Difficult.  Every 
other  order  I  shall  Comply  with  as  far  as  is  in  my 
power. 

Any  other  matter  that  you  may  want  to  know  the 
Barer  Mr  Robinson  can  Inform  you  Sir  I  am  with 
Respect  your  Humble  Servant 

DAVID  SHEPHARD 
To  His  Excelency   General  Hand 
Pr  favour  of  Mr  Robinson. 


1  For  Dunkard  Creek,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  212,  note  55. 
The  depredations  are  further  noted  in  Clark's  letter  of 
March  30,  post. — ED. 


246    FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

REPORT  FROM  FORT  RANDOLPH 

[Capt.  William  McKee  to  General  Hand.     2Ug— A.  L.  S.] 
FOR[T]  RANDOLPH,  29th  March    1778 

SIR — In  my  Last  of  29th  Jan.  you  were  Informd 
that  six  of  the  soldiers  were  Dead  of  the  small  Pox. 
There  has  six  Died  since  in  Garrison  &  one  that  went 
on  Furloe  with  Cap1  Arbucle  Died  on  the  Road  makes 
13  on  the  whole  8  of  my  Comp'y  &  5  of  Cap1  Arbucles 
the  Remainder  that  had  the  Disorder  are  all  Recovered 
except  one  that  is  yet  unfit  for  Duty  The  Garrison  is 
now  in  general  in  good  Health.  The  Indians  have 
made  no  Attempt  upon  us.  There  was  the  signs  of  a 
party  Discovered  crossing  Ohio  12  miles  below  this 
[the]  9th  of  this  Instant  I  sent  an  express  to  the  set 
tlement  to  give  notice  who  are  Return'd  and  are  now 
going  to  your  post.  I  also  Informd  you  our  Beef  woud 
be  exhausted  some  time  in  April.  But  unfortunately 
above  3500  lbs  was  spoild  &  we  have  been  totaly  out  of 
Beef  since  the  17th  Inst.  I  expected  either  Pork  or 
Bacon  woud  have  been  sent  by  Lt  Gilmore2  wh  (with 
the  weakness  of  the  Garrison)  caused  my  Delaying 
sending  on  express  sooner.  To  my  Mortification  was 
Disappointed.  By  yours  of  the  12th  Instant  I  learnd  a 
supply  of  Pork  for  this  place  was  Intended  soon.  But 


-  Lieut.  James  Gilmore  belonged  to  the  well-known  Rock- 
bridge  County  family  of  that  name  (see  ante,  p.  159,  note  20), 
and  had  served  under  Capt.  William  McKee  in  Dunmore's 
War.  When  the  Revolution  began,  he  volunteered  and  as 
early  as  1776  was  a  lieutenant  in  McKee's  company  on  the 
Continental  establishment.  Having  resigned  before  1781, 
Gilmore  raised  and  commanded  a  militia  company  from  Rock- 
bridge,  for  the  relief  of  the  Southern  army,  marched  his 
troops  to  the  aid  of  General  Greene,  and  participated  in  the 
victory  of  the  Cowpens  (Feb.  17,  1781)  under  Gen.  Daniel 
Morgan. — ED. 


AFFAIRS  AT  FORT  RANDOLPH  247 

from  L*  Gilmore  &  Ll  Hamilton  (who  is  now  here)  I 
also  am  Informd  that  the  scarcity  both  of  Boats  & 
hands  as  also  your  not  expecting  we  were  totaly  out 
might  Procrastinate  the  supply  too  Long,  have  there 
fore  sent  Ll  Jas  McNut  with  a  party  &  a  Boat  with 
whom  I  hope  you'll  endeavour  to  send  a  sufficient  sup 
ply  of  Pork  or  Bacon  there  is  now  about  50  Days 
Double  Rations  of  flower  for  what  men  is  here  20 
Day's  will  elapse  before  the  Boat  Returns  so  that  then 
there  will  scarce  be  single  Rations  of  flower  for  two 
months,  it  therefore  appears  Necessary  another  Boat 
with  an  Additional  supply  of  flower  shou'd  be  sent. 
I  have  sent  with  Ll  Jas  McNut  an  ace1  agst  the  United 
States  for  Cloathing  Money  for  three  of  my  Compy 
who  are  enlisted  for  three  years  wc  I  hope  your  excely 
will  send  with  him.  There  is  a  sum  of  the  Bounty 
Remains  in  my  hand  and  it  Does  not  appear  I  shoud 
have  an  opportunity  to  use  it  in  the  Recruiting  way 
here,  therefore  woud  Desire  your  Directions  where  or 
to  whom  I  shall  refund  it.  the  men  are  giving  in  their 
Notices  already  that  they  won1  serve  longer  than  their 
present  term.  I  have  learnd  from  good  Authority  that 
the  Indians  Intend  striking  a  severe  Blow  at  this  place 
some  time  in  May  next.  The  Money  arrivd  safe.  Mr 
Gilmore  is  gone  Down  the  River  after  those  Deserters. 
Mr  Hamilton  is  here  after  another  party  it  seems  as  if 
all  the  men  woud  Desert  your  post.  "\Ye  have  not  l/2 
bushel  salt  in  the  garrison  one  Battoe  was  cut  loose  at 
three  o'c  in  the  Morning  of  the  9th  Ins*  either  by  In 
dians  or  Deserters  she  was  pursued  Directly  but  the 
Darkness  of  the  Night  and  a  Fogg  on  the  River  pre 
vented  her  being  got  the  other  Day  we  Catchd  one  a 


248         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Drift  of  the  same  make  &  size  with  the  others  sup 
posed  to  come  from  your  Garrison.  I  have  sent  a  cer 
tificate  of  Jas  Logan  &  Phill.  Hamond  going  express 
to  Green  Briar.3  present  my  Compts  to  Majr  Ewing 
Col°  Mathews  &  McDowel.  I  am  Your  Excel^5  Most 

Ofr  Hble  Serv' 

Wm  MCKEE 

Edward  Hand    B.  Gen*   Fort  Pitt 


ATTACK   ON  DUNKARD  CREEK 

[Maj.  George  Rogers  Clark  to  General  Hand.      i8j7i — 
A.  L  S.] 

MUDDY  Ck.    March  3Oth    1778 

Dr  GENERAL — I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  send 
ing  my  Letters  to  me  as  for  your  opening  them  it  is 
a  matter  of  no  importance.  The  hostilities  commited 
in  this  part  of  the  Country  stopt  the  party  that  I  had 
ordered  to  wheling  [Wheeling]  for  the  Boats  as  their 
presence  was  amediately  nessessary  in  the  neighber- 
hood.  I  have  fited  of  a  party  to  Day  which  I  hope  will 
answer  the  purpose  intended.  The  Indians  have  made 


3  James  Logan  of  that  part  of  Augusta  now  a  part  of  Rock- 
bridge  County,  was  a  son  of  the  elder  James,  who  with  his 
brother  David  (father  of  Benjamin  Logan  of  Kentucky)  set 
tled  at  an  early  day  on  Carr's  Creek.  James  the  younger  was 
in  McKee's  company  during  Dunmore's  War,  and  appears  to 
have  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  in  the  Revolution.  He  married 
Hannah  Irvine,  and  two  of  his  sons,  Robert  and  Joseph  D., 
were  well-known  Presbyterian  ministers  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley. 

Philip  Hammond  took  part  in  Dunmore's  War,  among  the 
Botetourt  volunteers.  His  title  to  fame  is  his  notification  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Donnally's  Fort  of  the  approach  of  the 
Indians  (May,  1778),  and  his  gallant  defense  of  that  fort. 
Particulars  of  his  after  life  are  not  known  to  us.  He  may 
have  descended  from  the  Maryland  family  of  Hammonds, 
among  whom  the  patronymic  Philip  was  frequent. — ED. 


McKEE'S  ESCAPE  249 

three  different  attacks  on  Dunkard  C[reek]  which  is 
entirely  evacuated.4    I  am  Sir  your  hble.  Serv1 

G.  R.  CLARK 
Genl  Edwd  Hand    Pittsburg     Pr  Express 


LOYALISTS  ESCAPE 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Jasper  Yeates.      MS.  in  New  York 
Public  Library;   Hand  Papers— A.  L.  S.] 

FORT  PITT  3Oth.  Mch.  1778 

Dr.  YEATES — I  am  in  such  Distress  on  being  Satis 
fied  that  Mr.  Mc.Kee  has  made  his  escape  from  here 
the  night  before  last.  Accompanied  by  Mat:  Elliot,5 


4  For  the  attack  on  the  inhabitants  of  Dunkard  Creek,  see 
Thwaites,  Withers's  Border  Warfare,  pp.  238-240.     The  Brit 
ish  reports  of  parties  sent  out,  are  in  a  letter  of  Henry  Ham 
ilton  in  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  ix,  pp.  434,  435. — ED. 

5  Matthew   Elliott   was  born   in   Ireland,   but   removing  to 
Pennsylvania  at  an  early  age,  he  settled  at  Carlisle.     Having 
entered  the  Indian  trade,  he  was  familiar  with  the  Shawnee 
and  acted  as  their  peace  ambassador  in  Dunmore's  War.     At 
the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  was,  with  his  servingman 
Michael    Herbert,   taken   in   the   Muskingum  country   by   six 
Wyandot  Indians  and  carried  prisoner  to  Detroit.     In  later 
life  he  claimed  to  have  abandoned  his  property  and  gone  to 
Detroit  because  of  Loyalist  principles   (Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist. 
Colls.,  xxv,  p.  178).    He  was,  nevertheless,  regarded  with  sus 
picion  at  Detroit,  arrested,  and  sent  down  to  Quebec.     There 
he  was  released  upon  parole,  and  making  his  way  to  Fort  Pitt 
escaped  to  Detroit,  Mar.  28,  1778.    He  was  at  once  made  cap 
tain  in  the  Indian  department,  with  a  salary  of  ten  shillings 
per  day.     His  influence  was  great  with  the  Shawnee,  among 
whom   he  had  married.     Throughout  the   Revolution   Elliott 
was  actively   engaged   against  the   American   frontier,  taking 
off  the  Moravians  in   1781,  and  aiding  in  Crawford's  defeat 
(1782).     After  the  war  he  settled  at  his  home  on  the  Cana 
dian  side  of  Detroit  River,  and  in  1790  became  deputy  super 
intendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and  1795  superintendent.     In  1798, 
through  some  difficulty  with  the  military  arm  of  the  service, 
he  was  summarily  dismissed  from  office.     In   1801  he  repre 
sented  Essex  in  the  parliament  of  Upper  Canada,  and  was 
again  a  member  in  1805  and  1809.     In  1808  he  was  restored 


250         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Simon  Girty,  two  others  I  am  not  Acquainted  with  & 
two  negroes,  that  I  can  Say  very  little  to  you  at  this 
time — 

I  inclose  you  a  coppy  of  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Commissioners  respecting  Col :  Morgan  &  Matters  in 
Gen1.  5  men  were  lately  Murdered  on  Dunkard  Creek, 
two  Wounded  &  4  taken  last  week  a  soldier  kild  an 
Indian  on  the  Indian  Side  nearly  Opposite  Mr. 
Croghans  place  but  did  not  escape  himself.  I  hope  to 
See  you  Soon  Untill  then  Adieu  Dr.  Yeates  most 
Affectionately  yrs. 

EDWd:  HAND 
Jasper  Yeates  Esqr.     To  the  Care  of  Richd.  Peters  Esqr. 


[General  Hand  to  Gen.  Horatio  Gates.     3NNi05,  106 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  30th.  March,  1778. 

SIR— I  have  the  mortification  to  inform  you  that 
last  Saturday  night,  Alex1".  McKee  made  his  escape 
from  this  place,  as  also  Mathew  Elliott,  a  person  lately 
from  Quebec  on  parole,  Simon  Girty,  Robt.  Surplus, 
and  one  Higgins."  On  my  arrival  from  Kanhawa  in 


to  his  office  as  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  receiving  at 
the  same  time  a  commission  as  captain  in  the  regulars.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  1812-15  he  became  deputy-quar 
termaster-general,  and  leader  of  the  Indians,  and  in  1814 
received  a  medal  for  his  efficient  services.  When  the  Ken- 
tuckians  captured  Amherstburg  after  Perry's  victory  on 
Lake  Erie,  they  completely  wrecked  Elliott's  house  and  furni 
ture,  because  of  his  conspicuous  services  to  the  British  cause. 
Elliott  retired  with  the  army  to  the  Thames,  and  after  that 
battle  proceeded  to  Joseph  Brant's  place  on  Burlington  Bay, 
where  in  May,  1814,  he  died.  His  descendants  returned  to 
his  former  home  in  Amherstburg,  where  they  inherited  a 
considerable  estate,  including  about  sixty  negro  slaves. — ED. 
6  Robert  (called  Robin)  Surphlitt  (Surplus)  was  a  cousin 
of  Alexander  McKee.  He  was  placed  on  the  pay-roll  of  the 


McKEE'S  ESCAPE  251 

Dec1'  last,  I  reed,  the  direction  of  the  Board  of  War  to 
send  McKee  to  York  Town  on  his  parole,  and  accord 
ingly  wrote  him  the  enclosed  note  the  29th  Deer., 
which  he  told  the  messenger  required  no  answer. 
Finding  he  did  not  come  up  from  his  farm  (where  he 
then  was)  as  soon  as  I  expected,  I  repeated  my  desire 
in  the  note  dated  7th  Feb'y,  on  which  he  came  here 
immediately  and  apologized  for  his  delay.  When  I 
returned  here  from  my  late  excursion  into  the  Indian 
country,  I  found  him  still  here  pretending  indisposi 
tion,  which  with  other  plausible  excuses  detained  him 
until  the  time  of  his  escape — an  event  the  more  dis 
tressing  to  me  as  it  was  distant  from  my  thoughts ; 
nor  can  I  help  thinking  that  Elliott  brought  him 
despatches  from  Quebec  which  influenced  him  at  this 
time.  *  *  * 

P.  S.  Within  this  month  5  men  have  been  killed,  2 
wounded,  &  4  taken  by  the  Savages  on  Dunkard 
Creek.  Last  week  two  soldiers  straggled  over  the 
Alleghany  and  fell  in  with  5  Indians,  the  soldiers  had 
the  first  fire  and  killed  one;  but  afterwards  suffered 
a  like  loss  themselves. 


Indian  department  and  apparently  was  employed  as  a  messen 
ger  to  the  tribesmen.  After  the  Revolution  he  was  reduced  to 
half  pay,  and  in  1796  pensioned  for  his  services  as  "late 
lieutenant  of  the  Western  Indians."  In  1803  he  applied  for 
a  grant  of  land,  and  spoke  of  his  residence  as  not  being  far 
from  the  Niagara  frontier. 

John  Higgins  appears  to  have  been  a  servant  of  McKee. 
He  was  placed  upon  the  pay-roll  of  Indian  volunteers  at  four 
shillings  a  day.  In  1779  he  attempted  to  desert  to  Clark's 
army,  but  was  captured  at  the  Miami  towns.  In  February, 
1783,  he  was  discharged,  and  in  April  of  that  year  McKee 
met  him  at  Roche  de  Bout. — ED. 


252        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

A  report  prevails  that  28  men  were  taken  by  the 
savages  at  the  Salt  Lick  near  Kentucky  in  Feby.7 

Eowd  HAND 
To  Maj.  Gen.  Gates 


[General  Hand  to  Col.  William  Crawford.      3NNiO7 — 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  3Oth.  March,  1778. 

DR.  CRAWFORD — I  reed  yr.  favor  of  yesterday,  and 
am  sorry  for  the  accident  that  befel  Mr.  De  Camp, 
and  send  the  Doctor  to  his  assistance. 

You  will  no  doubt  be  surprised  to  hear  that  Mr. 
McKee,  Matthew  Elliott,  Simon  Girty,  one  Surplus, 
and  Higgins,  with  McKee's  two  negroes,  eloped  on 
Saturday  night.  This  will  make  it  improper  to  pro 
ceed  with  the  intended  expedition  to  French  Creek, 
which  I  beg  you  may  give  proper  notice  of  to  the  gen 
tlemen  who  are  preparing  for  it;  and  as  your  assist 
ance  may  be  necessary  towards  preventing  the  evils 
that  may  arise  from  the  information  of  these  run- 


7  This  refers  to  the  capture  of  Daniel  Boone  and  the  party 
from  Boonesborough,  who  were  boiling  salt  at  the  Lower 
Bine  Licks.  The  captors  were  about  120  Shawnee  Indians 
led  by  their  war  chief,  Blackfish.  They  were  on  their  way  to 
attack  Boonesborough,  in  revenge  for  the  killing  of  Corn 
stalk.  The  Kentucky  pioneers  did  not  anticipate  an  attack 
during  the  winter  months,  hence  their  fort  was  palisaded 
upon  only  three  sides.  Boone  was  captured  while  bringing  in 
supplies  of  meat  obtained  in  hunting.  Learning  the  number 
and  purpose  of  the  enemy,  he  persuaded  them  to  be  content 
with  the  capture  of  the  salt-boilers,  twenty-six  in  number, 
whom  he  agreed  to  persuade  to  give  themselves  up.  They 
were  taken  to  the  chief  Shawnee  town,  then  on  the  Little 
Miami  three  miles  north  of  the  present  town  of  Xenia.  There 
Boone  was  adopted  into  the  family  of  Blackfish.  He  made 
his  escape  the  following  June. — ED. 


McKEE'S  ESCAPE  253 

aways,  I  beg  you  may  return  here  as  soon  as  possible 
I  am,  Dr.  Crawford,  sincerely  yrs, 

EDWd  HAND 

Col.  Wm.  Crawford. 


[Maj.  Jasper  Ewing  to  Jasper  Yeates.      Reprinted  from 
Historical  Register  (Harrisburg,  Pa.,  1884),  ii,  p.  I57-] 

FORT  PITT,  Mar.  30,  1778. 

HOND.  SIR— Last  Saturday  Night  Mr.  McKee, 
Matt.  Elliott,  and  Simon  Girty,  together  with  one 
Higgins  ran  off.  McKee's  Conduct  on  this  Occasion 
is  of  so  infamous  a  Nature,  that  it  will  forever  render 
him  odious.  The  General's  Behaviour  to  him,  time 
after  time,  when  he  was  ordered  below,  and  his  Pitiful 
Excuses,  seem  to  infer  that  his  Escape  was  premedi 
tated.  His  Intimacy  with  Elliott  has  been  very  great, 
and  'tis  conjectured  that  Elliott  brought  dispatches 
for  McKee  from  Quebec.  As  he  was  reputed  to  be  a 
Gentn.  of  the  Strictest  Honour  and  Probity,  no  body 
had  the  least  Idea  of  his  being  Capable  of  acting  in  so 
base  a  manner.  A  man  of  his  Capacity,  and  so  well 
acquainted  with  the  Situation  of  our  affairs  in  this 
department,  will  be  no  unwelcome  Guest  at  Detroit. 
I  am,  Honerd.  Sir,  Yr.  much  obliged  Nephew, 

J.  EWING 
Jasper  Yeates,  Esq.    To  the  Care,  of  Richd.  Peters, 


254         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  the  President  of  Congress.      MS.  in 

Carnegie    Library,    Pittsburgh ;      George    Morgan's    Letter 

Book.] 

FORT  PITT    March  3ist.    1778. 
To  the  Honble.  Henry  Laurens  Escp'. 

SIR — As  the  Commissioners  &  General  Hand  are 
possess'd  of  every  information  respecting  the  situation 
of  affairs  in  this  Quarter,  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to 
their  Letters  &  to  the  inclosed  Message  from  the 
Delawares8  &  Governor  Hamilton's  new  Proclamation 
with  two  of  his  old  ones  which  accompany  this.0 

I  only  wait  here  in  hopes  of  being  assistant  to  the 
Commissioners  during  their  stay  at  this  place.  As 
they  are  fully  acquainted  with  my  sentiments  respect- 


8  The  message  from  the  Delawares  stated  that  Killbuck 
made  a  visit  to  Detroit  in  December,  and  that  their  forces 
were  too  few  to  cause  uneasiness  at  Fort  Pitt.  White  Eyes 
sent  word  that  thirty  Wyandots  were  out  on  the  warpath 
toward  the  Redstone  settlements — probably  the  band  that 
made  reprisals  on  Dunkard  Creek.  White  Eyes  also  stated 
that  Cornstalk's  tribe  of  the  Shawnee  seemed  willing  to  ac 
cept  the  apologies  of  the  whites  for  the  murder  of  their  chief, 
and  would  continue  friendly.  The  Delawares  do  not  appear 
to  have  been  aware  of  the  Shawnee  raid  to  the  Blue  Licks, 
and  the  capture  of  Daniel  Boone  and  his  men. — ED. 

!)  This  refers  to  a  circular  letter  written  by  Hamilton 
(Jan.  5,  17/8),  enclosing  a  statement  from  several  American 
captives  testifying  to  the  kind  and  humane  treatment  they  had 
received  from  both  Indian  and  white  captors.  This  was  signed 
by  the  following  persons:  "George  Baker  for  himself,  W7ife 
&  five  Children  now  here,  from  5  Miles  below  Logs  Town  ; 
James  Butterworth  from  Bigg  Kenhawa ;  Thomas  Shoers 
(his  mark ),  from  Harridge  [Harrod's]  Town  near  Kentucky; 
Jacob  Pugh,  from  six  miles  below  the  Fort  at  Wheeling; 
Jonathan  Muchmore,  from  Fort  Pitt ;  James  Whitaker,  from 
Fort  Pitt,  taken  at  Fish  Creek;  [blank  in  MS.]  from  Bedford 
taken  at  Sandy  Run;  John  Bridges  (his  mark)  from  Fort 
Pitt,  taken  at  ditto."  See  Bailsman,  Bearer  County,  i,  pp.  150, 
151.— ED. 


McKEE'S  ESCAPE  255 

ing  Indian  Affairs  I  need  not   repeat  them  to  Con 
gress. 

The  elopement  of  Mr.  McKee  late  Crown  Agent  at 
Pittsburgh  who  most  dishonourably  broke  his  Parole 
on  the  28th.  inst.  has  somewhat  check'd  the  pleasing 
expectation  I  entertain'd  respecting  the  Delawares  £ 
Shawnese,  tho'  I  think  the  former  will  not  be  alto 
gether  influenced  by  him.  Four  persons  accompanied 
him  viz:  Matthew  Elliott,  Simon  Girty,  Robin  Surplis 
&  [blank  in  MS.]  Higgins. 

Elliott  had  but  a  few  weeks  ago  return'd  from 
Detroit  via  New  York  on  his  Parole  &  I  am  told  had 
possessed  Mr:  Mc:Kee's  mind  with  the  persuasion  of 
his  being  assassinated  on  his  Road  to  York.  Indeed 
several  persons  had  express'd  the  like  apprehensions, 
and  perhaps  had  also  mention'd  their  fears  to  him 
which  I  am  of  opinion  has  occasioned  his  inexcuseable 
Flight.  It  is  also  very  probable  that  Elliott  might  have 
been  employ'd  to  bring  Letters  from  Canada  which 
may  have  influenced  Mr :  Mc  :Kee's  conduct. 

Girty  has  served  as  Interpreter  of  the  Six  Nation 
Tongue  at  all  the  public  Treaties  here  &  I  apprehend 
will  influence  his  Brother  who  is  now  on  a  Message 
from  the  Commissioners  to  the  Shawnese  to  join  him. 

The  Parties  of  Wiandots  mention'd  in  the  Letter 
from  Cap1 :  White  Eyes  have  committed  several  Mur 
ders  in  Monongahela  County.  Last  week  two  Soldiers 
who  had  cross'd  into  the  Indian  Country  4  or  5  Miles 
from  this  Post  to  hunt,  discover'd  five  Indians,  one  of 
whom  they  shot  before  the  Indians  perceived  them— 
the  Fire  was  return'd,  one  of  our  Men  was  kill'd  & 
the  other  escaped  back  to  the  Fort. 


256         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

The  Massacre  of  the  Indians  who  were  invited  to  a 
friendly  Conference  at  Fort  Randolph  &  the  unlucky 
mistake  at  Beaver  Creek10  I  doubt  not  Congress  are 
fully  inform'd  of  by  General  Hand  to  whose  Letters 
I  beg  leave  to  refer  &  remain  with  the  greatest  respect 

[GEORGE  MORGAN] 

SIR — Since  writing  the  foregoing  I  have  received 
an  unexpected  requisition  from  General  Hand,  a  Copy 
of  which  I  inclose. 

I  am  taking  the  necessary  measures  to  comply  with 
the  General's  order — to  enable  me  to  do  this  Business 
I  must  beg  the  favour  of  Congress  to  send  to  me  by 
the  Bearer  James  McClelland  who  goes  Express  for 
the  Commissioners  four  thousand  Dollars.  I  am  with 
great  Respect  &c. 

BOAT  BUILDING 

[Colonel    Morgan   to    Colonel    Buchanan.       MS.    in    Carnegie 
Library,  Pittsburgh  ;     George  Morgan's  Letter  Book.] 

FORT  PITT   March  31  st.  1778 
To  Colonel  William  Buchanan 

Commissary  General  of  Purchases. 

Mr:  Stewart  (Father  to  Major  Stewart11  taken  on 
Staten  Island)  proposed  to  me  the  building  of  arm'ct 


10  The  first  reference  is  to  Cornstalk's  massacre;    the  sec 
ond  to  Hand's  campaign. — ED. 

11  This   officer,  known   as   Maj.  Jack    Stewart,   belonged  to 
the  Maryland  line,  where  he  was  commissioned  as  first  lieu 
tenant  in   1776,  captain   in  December  of   the   same  year,  and 
major  in  April,  1777.     In  August  of  the  last-named  year,  he 
participated  in  Sullivan's  unsuccessful  attack  on  Staten  Island, 
and  was  captured  after  such  a  brave  attack  "as  would  honor 
the    finest    troops    in    the    world."     Having    been    exchanged, 


BOAT  BUILDING  257 

Boats  on  the  Ohio  and  I  believe  would  undertake  the 
six  Boats  now  order'd  that  he  might  acquire  a  more 
perfect  knowledge  of  the  Country  and  form  a  better 
Judgment  of  his  proposed  private  undertaking. 

As  he  has  a  number  of  his  own  Workmen  I  think 
it  would  be  well  to  send  an  Express  to  him  on  this 
business,  requesting  his  attendance  at  York  if  he  in 
clines  to  undertake  the  business. 

A  considerable  number  of  other  Boats  will  be 
wanted  as  I  formerly  wrote  to  you  but  I  have  received 
no  orders  respecting  them.  I  am  with  respect  &c 

[GEORGE  MORGAN] 

For  your  information  I  inclose  to  you  the  Contract 
of  the  Carpenters  who  built  the  last  thirty  Boats.  I 
could  wish  the  article  of  Rum  to  be  left  out  if  possible 
in  the  new  Contract  but  I  would  not  let  this  delay  the 
Business.  The  Workmen  and  Materials  may  be  di 
rected  in  case  of  my  absence  to  Mr :  Joseph  Skelton.12 
The  Materials  wanted  will  be 

Rudder  Irons  &  Pintles;  Six  Pump  Spears  and  Boxes; 
Six  large  Ring  Bolts;  12  Iron  Potts  for  Cabouses;  i  large 
d° :,  to  boil  Pitch  in  and  two  Ladles;  Two  thousand  weight 
of  Deck  Nails  and  Spikes  assorted;  Canvas  &  Blocks  neces 
sary  for  Sails  ;  Cordage  for  d°  :  and  for  Cables ;  12  Barrels 
of  Pitch:  2  d°:  Turpentine;  600  tb  Oakum;  Sail  Twine; 
Sail  Needles ;  500  It)  largest  Rod  Iron  ; 

6  Rheams  of  Paper ;  2  doz :  Ink  Powder ;  4  hundred 
Quills;  i  Ib  Sealing  Wax;  i  tb  Wafers;  2  good  Penknives, 
for  the  Commissary's  Department 


Major  Stewart  was  in  Wayne's  forces  upon  their  attack  on 
Stony  Point,  and  was  honored  with  a  silver  medal  struck  by 
order  of  Congress  to  commemorate  his  gallantry.  He  was 
later  colonel  of  the  ist  Maryland  regiment,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  killed  by  a  fall  from  his  horse  near  Charleston, 
not  long  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution.— ED. 
12  Commissary  of  stores  at  Fort  Pitt. — ED. 

17 


2$8         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

[Gen.  Edward  Hand  to  Col.  George  Morgan.      MS.  in  Car 
negie  Library,  Pittsburgh;    George  Morgan's  Letter  Book.] 

FORT  PITT   2ist.  March    1778. 
To  Colonel  George  Morgan, 

SIR — The  Hon'ble  the  Commissioners  appointed  by 
Congress  to  repair  to  this  place  for  various  purposes, 
have  recommended  the  building  six  Boats  to  carry  one 
four  Pounder  each,  and  otherwise  calculated  for  War, 
to  secure  the  Navigation  of  the  Ohio  River  from  Post 
to  Post,  as  you  have  had  the  direction  of  the  Boats 
already  built  here,  I  beg  you  may  take  the  necessary 
steps  towards  the  speedy  building  of  these  arm'd 
Boats,  the  Dimensions  and  Construction  I  must  leave 
to  yourself,  who  are  a  better  Judge  than  I  can  possibly 

be.    I  am  Sir,  Your  Hble  Servant 

Eowd :  HAND 


ADDRESS  TO  THE   SHAWNEE 

[Col.  William  Preston  and  Col.  William  Fleming  to  the 
Shawnee.     2ZZ44— A.  L.  S.13] 

To  the  Chiefs  &  Warriors  of  the  Shawnese  Nation 

BROTHERS — We  are  Commanded  by  His  Excellency 
the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  State  of  Virginia  to 
Address  your  Nation.  And  we  request  in  the  Name 
of  Our  Governor,  that  you  will  listen  patiently  to  what 
we  have  to  say,  and  that  you  will  accept  the  proposals 
we  are  ordered  to  make  to  you  in  behalf  of  all  the 
good  people  of  Virginia. 

Warriors  and  Chiefs — It  is  with  the  deepest  Con 
cern  and  sincerest  Sorrow  that  we  reflect  on  the  Mur- 


13  The  draft  of  this  letter  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Col. 
William  Fleming;  the  signatures  of  both  Fleming  and  Pres 
ton  are  appended. ED. 


LETTER  TO  THE  SHAWNEE  259 

der  committed  by  some  of  Our  rash  young  People, 
on  the  Corn  Stalk  and  three  Others  of  your  Nation. 
Yet  this  Accident  we  hope  will  not  lessen  the  Great 
Council  Fire,  before  which  your  Father  and  Ours, 
and  Yourselves  and  we,  have  sat  and  smoaked  the 
Pipe  of  Peace.  When  you  consider  that  one  of  our 
Officers  was  kiled  by  an  Indian  over  the  Kanhaway  in 
sight  of  the  Fort,  and  our  hot  headed  young  Men, 
believing  it  was  done  by  some  of  Your  Nation, 
prompted  them  to  commit  the  horrid  Murder,  but  we 
are  Commanded  to  Assure  you,  that  the  Governor 
and  all  the  Great  Men  of  Virginia  detest  the  crime 
and  are  much  concerned  that  the  Chain  of  Friendship 
which  binds  us  together  as  Neighbours,  Antient  Allies 
&  Friends,  should  contract  any  Rust.  And  to  convince 
you  of  the  sincerity  of  Our  great  Men,  we  are  ordered 
to  send  you  some  of  the  Governors  Proclamations,  in 
which  a  reward  is  offered  for  Apprehending  the  Mur 
derers,  And  every  method  taken  to  bring  them  to  Jus 
tice.  You  may  be  Assured  they  will  be  punished  by 
our  Laws,  when  they  are  taken  in  the  same  manner, 
as  if  they  had  kiled  so  many  of  our  own  People.  We 
are  Ordered  to  propose  to  you  that  Commissioners  for 
Virginia,  meet  some  of  your  Wise  Old  Men  in  treaty 
at  Fort  Randolph,  in  hopes  that  they  can  make  you 
such  reparation  as  will  satisfy  Your  Nation,  and  con 
vince  you  of  the  Peaceble  disposition  of  Virginia 
towards  you.  We  love  you,  because  you  are  Generous 
&  Sensible.  We  wish  to  be  Friends  with  you.  We 
have  no  desire  to  injure  or  molest  you.  We  covet 
nothing  you  have.  All  we  desire  is  Peace  with  you. 
this  we  are  earnest  to  propose  because  Our  Young 


260         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Men  have  done  amiss  &  treated  you  ill.  We  Acknowl 
edge  it,  and  are  Willing  to  make  all  the  satisfaction  we 
can.  When  you  think  seriously  on  the  whole  Affair  We 
hope  Your  Wise  Men  will  conclude  to  meet  at  Fort 
Randolph  and  hear  what  more  the  Virginia  Commis 
sioners  have  to  say  to  you.  If  you  will  set  a  time  when 
it  will  suit  you  to  meet  there,  The  Governor  and  Coun 
cil  will  appoint  Commissioners  to  talk  with  you,  and 
endeavour  to  Cover  the  Blood  that  has  been  Spilt  upon 
the  Path  of  Peace,  and  brighten  the  Chain  of  Friend 
ship.  In  order  to  forward  this  happy  work,  that  you 
may  be  easy  in  Your  minds,  and  safe  in  your  Persons, 
when  you  come  to  treat  an  equal  number  of  white  peo 
ple  shall  be  sent  over  the  Ohio,  and  put  into  your  Peo 
ples  hands,  for  your  sincerity  and  safe  return.  And 
we  assure  you  of  the  most  Friendly  treatment,  And 
should  any  Chiefs  or  Great  Men  of  your  Neighbour 
ing  Nations,  Delawares,  Mingoes,  Wyandots  come 
with  you,  they  will  be  received  kindly  and  treated  as 
Friends.  In  the  meantime  we  beg  you  will  not  hearken 
to  the  bad  talks  of  our  Enemies  and  Yours,  they  want 
us  to  destroy  one  another  ;14  And  then  they  they  will 
possess  Your  Lands  and  ours  enslave  Our  Children 
&  Yours.  Your  People  and  Ours  live  in  the  same 


14  Compare  with  this  the  message  sent  the  Shawnee  by 
White  Eyes,  the  Delaware  chief,  after  McKee  and  the  other 
Loyalists  had  passed  through  his  village :  "Grand  children ! 
ye  Shawanese !  some  days  ago  a  flock  of  birds,  that  had  come 
on  from  the  east,  lit  at  Goschochking,  imposing  a  song  of 
their's  upon  us,  which  song  had  nigh  proved  our  ruin ! 
Should  these  birds,  which  on  leaving  us,  took  their  flight 
towards  Sciota,  endeavor  to  impose  a  song  on  you  likewise, 
do  not  listen  to  them,  for  they  lie." — Heckewelder's  Narrative, 
p.  182. — ED. 


LETTER  TO  THE  SHAWNEE  261 

land,  breath  the  same  Air,  and  drink  the  same  water. 
We  ought  to  live  in  Peace  like  Friends  &  Brothers. 
And  we  hope  you  will  lay  down  the  Hatchet,  and  re 
strain  your  Young  Men  from  disturbing  Our  Fron 
tiers,  untill  you  hear  the  good  Talk  from  Our  Gover 
nor  which  he  will  send  you  by  his  Commissioners.15 
We  send  this  by  the  Grenadier  Squaw,  and  in  full 
Assurance  that  you  will  accept  the  proposals  we  have 
made  and  send  us  both  a  Friendly  Answer  to  Fort 
Randolph,  which  the  Officer  there  will  forward  to  us, 
we  send  you  this  String  of  W'hite  Wampum,  And  sub 
scribe  ourselves,  Your  Friends  &  Brothers 

WM.  PRESTON 
WILLIAM  FLEMING 

Virginia    Aprile  3d     17/8 


15  The  following  "Heads  of  a  Letter  to  the  Shawnesse" 
were  written  out  by  Colonel  Preston  and  appended  to  his 
letter  to  Colonel  Fleming,  March  14,  1778  (Draper  MSS., 
4QQi63)  :  "That  we  are  commanded  to  write  to  them  by  the 
Governor.  That  he  and  all  his  great  men  &  the  good  Men 
in  Virga  are  sorry  for  the  Murder.  That  every  method  is 
and  shall  be  taken  to  bring  the  Murderers  to  Justice.  That 
if  they  are  taken  they  shall  be  tryed  by  our  Laws  in  the 
same  manner  as  if  they  had  murdered  so  many  white  People. 
That  the  Governor  is  desirous  some  of  the  Warriors  would 
come  to  the  point  &  hear  &  that  he  will  send  Com8  to  meet 
them.  That  for  their  Security  while  they  are  talking  of 
Peace  an  equal  Number  of  white  warriors  shall  be  sent  over 
the  River  as  hostages.  That  the  Virginians  are  unwilling  to 
begin  a  War  with  them,  and  very  desirous  of  Peace  and  want 
to  have  all  difference  made  up  that  they  may  once  more  be 
Friends.  That  it  will  be  for  the  Benefit  of  their  Nation. 
That  to  convince  them  of  the  sincerity  of  our  professions  & 
Friendship,  that  should  any  [of]  the  Murderers  be  taken  up 
some  the  Indians  may  be  present  &  see  it.  Hot  headed  young 
Men." — ED. 


262         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

DEFENSE  OF  THE  SOUTHWESTERN  FRONTIER 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry's  circular  letter.      2Ui2.      Printed 
document,  autograph  signature.] 

WlLLIAMSBURG,   April    12,   17/8. 

SIR — The  season  is  now  come  when  the  enemy  will 
again  take  the  field,  and  perhaps,  by  means  of  an  in 
creased  number  of  forces,  may  oblige  the  continental 
army  to  retreat,  and  so  overrun  and  ravage  a  great 
extent  of  country.  In  order  to  check  this  destructive 
progress,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  assistance  from 
Virginia  will  be  called  for.  As  the  volunteer  scheme 
does  not  promise  to  succeed,  the  militia  will  be  our 
only  resource,  and  from  that  must  be  drawn  so  many 
men  as  the  exigency  may  require.  Added  to  this,  our 
own  country  is  liable  to  be  invaded  on  all  sides,  and  a 
prudent  regard  to  our  safety,  nay  our  existence,  de 
mands  that  we  be  prepared  to  resist. 

The  design  of  this  address  is  to  require  your  most 
strenuous  exertions  to  get  your  militia  in  readiness. 
In  a  particular  manner,  I  entreat  your  attention  to  the 
arms  and  accoutrements  of  the  men,  and  to  see  that 
one  third  part  of  them  be  put  into  readiness  to  march 
at  a  moment's  warning.  I  desire  that  you  will  be  par 
ticular  in  getting  returns  from  your  Captains,  by 
which  the  repairs  necessary  to  be  made  to  the  arms 
and  accoutrements  may  be  discovered ;  and,  after  or 
ders  are  given  for  these  repairs  to  be  made,  you  will 
order  other  returns,  by  which  you  may  see  whether 
they  are  properly  executed.  Let  powder  horns  and 
shot  bags  be  provided,  where  cartridge  boxes  cannot. 
A  particular  report  of  the  number  of  your  men,  and 
the  condition  of  their  arms  and  accoutrements,  when 


CLARK'S  PREPARATIONS  263 

you  have  executed  these  orders,  will  be  necessary ;  and 
I  shall  expect  it  with  impatience,  equal  to  the  impor 
tance  of  those  consequences  which  will  follow  from 
the  punctual  discharge  of  your  duty.  I  am,  Sir,  Your 

Most  humble  Servant, 

P.  HENRY 


CLARK'S   PREPARATION   FOR  OHIO   VOYAGE 

[Col.  George  Rogers  Clark  to  Capt  William  Harrod.     i8J;2— 
A.  L.  S.] 

April  i2«»    1778. 

Dr  CAPtn — I  have  this  Day  heard  of  our  Boats  com 
ing  up  the  River  they  left  Wheling  last  tuesday.  I 
also  hear  that  the  companies  that  I  expected  a  Cross 
the  Mountains  is  now  on  their  march  out  so  that  I 
hope  that  we  shall  shortly  be  able  to  imbark  for  Ken 
tucky  as  this  is  the  Day  that  your  Company  was  to 
imbody,  I  thought  it  necessary  to  get  this  inteligence 
to  you  as  quick  as  possible  as  the  men  might  not  be 
uneasy.  I  should  be  glad  that  you  would  gather  the 
remainder  of  your  Company  (that  is  not  on  Comd  to 
Wheling)  and  keep  them  imbodied  and  ready  to 
March  at  the  shortest  warning  as  we  shall  start  as 
soon  as  possible,  as  you  are  on  the  frontier  your  com 
pany  will  be  a  guard  to  ye  Inhabitants  while  you  stay, 
(what  goods  belonging  to  you  &  Company  that  is  to  go 
down  may  be  got  ready  to  be  put  on  board)  Lieu1 
J.  Swan16  I  expect  will  furnish  Rations  for  the  Com- 


16  John  Swan  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Monongahela, 
having  first  visited  the  region  in  1767  and  blazed  trees  for  a 
claim.  In  1769  he  removed  his  family  thither  from  the 
Potomac,  where  they  had  settled  after  leaving  the  ancestral 
home  in  Loudoim  County.  The  Swan  place  was  contiguous  to 


264         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

pany  while  they  lay  their,  which  I  shall  pay  him  for, 
one  of  my  Brothers17  came  up  the  other  day  with  some 
Accts  from  the  Governor  to  me,  desireing  me  to  be  ex 
peditious  as  possible  as  he  is  apprehensive  that  the 
Inds  will  shortly  make  a  brake  on  the  Frontiers  and 
our  being  on  our  station  he  expects  will  draw  their 
attention  towards  us  until  the  army  can  be  got  ready 
to  march  into  the  Indian  Cuny.  I  have  sent  you  part 
of  the  late  Laws  of  Virginia  in  which  you  will  see  part 
of  the  Invation  Act  and  the  authority  of  an  Officer  on 
duty.  I  am  Sir  your  Hbl  Serv* 

G.  R.  CLARK 
On  pnblick  service     To  Captn  Wm  Harrod   Tenmile  Creek. 


that  of  Jacob  Van  Meter,  in  Cumberland  township  of  Greene 
County;  and  a  blockhouse  built  about  1770  was  named  Fort 
Swan  and  Van  Meter.  It  seems  probable  that  the  Lieut,  John 
Swan,  who  was  in  Harrod's  company  on  Clark's  expedition, 
was  a  son  of  the  first  settler.  John  junior  was  in  the  expedi 
tion  to  Kaskaskia  (1778),  and  it  is  said  (Draper  MSS.,  36J26) 
that  he  went  out  as  captain  of  a  company  in  the  Shawnee 
expedition  of  1780.  After  that,  nothing  more  is  known  to  us 
of  this  officer.  A  family  tradition  (History  of  Greene  County, 
Pa.,  p.  400)  relates  that  while  one  son  of  the  elder  John  Swan 
was  emigrating  with  his  family  to  Kentucky,  he  was  shot  and 
instantly  killed  on  the  boat  while  going  down  the  Ohio  River. 
May  this  not  account  for  the  disappearance  of  the  young 
officer  who  served  under  Clark?  Charles  Swan  remained  on 
the  family  estate  in  Pennsylvania,  where  his  descendants  yet 
live. — ED. 

17  This  was  probably  Richard  Clark,  fourth  son  of  the 
family;  Jonathan,  the  oldest,  was  in  the  Continental  service; 
George  Rogers  was  the  second  son  ;  John,  the  third,  was  in 
a  British  prison,  having  been  captured  at  Germantown. 
Richard  Clark  was  born  (1760)  in  Caroline  County,  Va.  In 
March,  1779,  he  joined  his  brother  George's  army  to  the 
Illinois  as  a  volunteer,  receiving  a  commission  as  lieutenant 
in  June  of  the  same  year.  In  May,  1780,  he  was  at  Cahokia, 
and  served  with  Montgomery  on  the  latter's  Peoria  expedi 
tion.  Later,  Richard  Clark  was  a  member  of  the  garrison  at 
Fort  Jefferson,  and  in  the  spring  of  1781  returned  to  Louis- 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS  265 

SOUTHWEST    VIRGINIA    FRONTIER    ATTACKED 

ICol.  William   Preston  to  Col.  William  Fleming.18      3ZZi4— 

A.  L.  S.] 

My  Business  called  me  20  miles  above  Fort 
Chiswell19  [MS.  torn]  whence  I  returned  last  night 
much  fatigued  having  rode  great  part  of  [the  way] 
in  the  Rain  and  crossed  the  River  yesterday  at  the 
Risque  of  my  Life.  This  [was]  occasioned  by  an 
Express  from  Culborsons  Bottom20  which  followed  me 
to  near  the  head  of  Holston.  The  account  was,  that 
the  scouts,  on  tuesday  last  were  met  by  fifteen  Indians 
who  pursued  them  so  closeley  that  it  was  supposed 
one  [was  ta]ken.  However  I  hear  he  is  since  come  to 
the  fort.  The  Indians  have  [invested]  a  little  Garri 
son  about  five  Miles  above  Culbersons  in  such  a 
[way]  that  the  Officer  made  two  or  three  attempts 
before  he  could  send  me  a  [message].  At  length  an 
active  man  brought  a  Letter  dated  the  ioth.  They  had 
not  heard  from  Culbersons  for  three  Days.  I  have 
ordered  men  from  several  companies  to  the  Relief  of 
these  Places  but  I  am  really  affraid  they  will  not 
arrive  in  Time  as  the  Waters  are  impassable.  It  is 
supposed  by  the  People  that  a  large  Body  of  Indians 
are  come  in  and  that  a  Number  have  passed  [by]  the 


ville.  In  March,  1784,  while  travelling  alone  from  Louisville 
to  Vincennes,  he  lost  his  life  either  by  an  accident  or  an 
Indian  ambush.  As  his  horse  was  found  with  all  his  trappings 
and  accoutrements,  it  was  at  the  time  surmised  that  he  was 
drowned  while  crossing  the  Little  Wabash. — ED. 

18  This  letter  is  unaddressed,  but  its  contents  show  that  it 
was     written    to     Colonel     Fleming,     count}'     lieutenant     for 
Botetourt. — ED. 

19  For  account  of  Fort  Chiswell,  see  Dunmores  War,  p.  52, 
note  90. — ED. 

20  For  this  location,  see  Ibid,  p.  76,  note  25. — ED. 


266        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

garrisons  down  the  River  to  strike  the  Inhabitants. 
This  supposition,  I  [think]  is  probable,  and  if  I  hear 
any  further  Accounts  this  Day,  I  shall  make  [use  of] 
the  kind  Indulgence  you  gave  me  of  calling  some  Men 
from  Botetourt. 

I  see  very  little  Occasion  to  alter  the  Letter  to  the 
Shawnesse,  two  or  three  alterations  I  have  pointed 
out,  which  Letter  with  the  Wampum  [MS.  torn]  you 
will  meet  Capfc.  Arbuckle  at  Court  and  get  him  to  for 
ward  it.  Have  it  fairly  Copied  please  to  put  my  Name 
to  it. 

You  were  certainly  right  in  purchasing  Provisions 
for  the  Draughts  and  not  engage  a  Person  to  Victual 
them  on  the  Road,  and  equally  so  in  making  [use  of] 
the  Public  Money  for  that  Purpose,  as  it  was  not  so 
immediately  wanted  [for  the]  Militia.  I  was  obliged 
to  advance  Cap1  Crockett21  £70  for  the  Draughts  in 
this  County. 

I  am  sorry  that  the  Deserter  brought  by  R.  Preston- 
does  not  answer  the  [purpose].  At  that  time,  nor  till 
I  recd  your  Message  by  Mr  Floyd.23  I  had  not  adverted 
[to  that]  Clause.  Since  which  I  have  been  informed 
that  the  Reg*  that  Deserter  belonged  [to  was]  com 
posed  of  Virga  &  Maryland  Troops.  Had  I  thought 
or  believed  that  it  was  not  legally  clear,  I  could  readily 
have  got  a  Deserter  for  him  which  [MS.  torn]  young 
Man  to  take.  But  as  he  is  now  in  Carolina  &  will  not 


21  This  officer  is  noted  in  Ibid,  p.  44,  note  79. — ED. 

22  See  for  Robert  Preston,  Ibid,  p.  174,  note  21. — ED. 

23  Capt.  John  Floyd  must  have  but  just  returned  from  his 
captivity  in  England,  after  his  disastrous  privateering  expedi 
tion.     See  sketch  of  his  life  in  Ibid,  p.  9,  note  15. — ED. 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS  267 

[return]  till  June  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  have  the  Mat 
ter  fully  Settled  before  he  [gets]  in. 

Col°  Lynch  told  be  last  Tuesday  that  he  had  but 
I5oolb.  of  Lead  [at  the]  Mines,24  &  the  Frontier  In 
habitants  were  daily  calling  for  it  agreeable  [to  the] 
Governors  Order;  but  that  in  8  or  ten  days  his  Fur 
nace  would  be  ready  [and  he]  hoped  to  be  able  to 
Supply  all  the  Demands  against  him  for  that  Article ; 
[that  the]  Governor  had  wrote  a  most  pressing  Letter 
to  him  to  send  two  tons  to  Fort  [Pitt  and]  a  large 
Quantity  to  Congress. 

Before  I  saw  the  Colonel,  I  was  informed  that  he 
makes  the  Inhabitants  [MS.  torn]  for  the  lead  ordered 
them  by  the  Governor.  I  shall  write  to  [MS.  torn] 
the  first  opportunity  &  know  the  certainty ;  &  Mention 
your  [MS.  torn].  At  present  I  am  sure  he  cannot 
Supply  you,  therefore  it  would  [be  useless  to]  send 
up  for  it. 

Any  Expence  that  Cap4  Arbuckle  may  be  at,  and  he 
ought  [not  to  be]  restricted,  must  be  paid  him;  any 
Assurance  you  think  proper  to  give  [him  on]  that 
Head,  I  shall  most  readily  Join  you  therein. 

I  cannot  perfectly  agree  in  Sentiment  with  the 
Honble  the  Commissioners,  that  Botetourt  should  send 
as  many  men  out  of  the  County  as  Rockbridge,25  as 
[that]  has  a  Frontier  of  its  own  to  Defend,  which  is 
not  the  case  with  the  latter.  I  am  convinced  the  Mili 
tia  of  Botetourt  is  not  near  equal  to  that  [of  the  lat- 


24  For  Col.   Charles  Lynch,   see  Rev.    Upper  Ohio,  p.    174, 
note  4. — ED. 

25  For   the   quotas   ordered   by  the   commissioners   at   Fort 
Pitt,  see  ante,  p.  238. — ED. 


268         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

ter]  County,  but  the  misfortune  was,  that  Bo1  had  no 
representative  at  Pittsburg.  Upon  the  whole,  for  the 
above  reasons  and  many  [that  will]  readily  Occur  to 
you,  were  it  my  Case  I  would  postpone  that  [perfect] 
Obedience  to  the  Commander  which  is  required  untill 
the  Governor,  who  by  Law  has  the  Command  of  the 
Militia,  should  be  made  acquainted  with  the  Demand 
and  the  ill  Consequences  of  a  Compliance;  The  Situ 
ation  of  both  Counties  [he  is  a]  Stranger  to,  &  he 
may  be  made  sensible  that  this  County,  in  case  of 
[invasion]  can  expect  no  Relief  but  what  Botetourt 
can  give  it,  &  then  I  am  sure  he  will  let  these  things 
rest  on  the  footing  his  last  Letter  to  you  [advised]. 
I  can't  See  how  you  could  send  off  your  Militia  at  the 
call  of  the  Gen1  [Hand],  the  honble  the  Comrs,  or  still 
a  more  hon'ble  [MS.  torn]  unless  first  warranted  to 
do  so  by  the  Commander  in  Chief  of  this  State.  This 
Warrant,  I  imagine,  you  have  not  yet  received  (but 
the  Reverse)  from  him,  and  therefore  I  should  believe 
you  are  Justifiable  in  refusing,  or  at  least  postponing  a 
Compliance  [to  the]  Requisition,  until  you  have  Or 
ders  from  the  Governor. 

I  am  affraid  I  have  tired  you  with  this  confus'd 
Letter.  I  am  excessively  uneasy  about  our  Frontiers 
in  general  &  my  own  exposed  Family  in  particular. 
I  am  Dr  Sir  with  real  esteem  your  most  [obedient 
servant] 

Wm  PRESTON 
Ap.  13,  i7/826 


26  On  this  same  date  General  Hand  sent  a  warning  (Draper 
MSS.,  3oNNio8)  to  the  militia  officers  of  Ohio  and 
Monongalia  counties,  of  the  approach  of  the  Wyandot  bands 
that  had  been  sent  by  White  Eyes.  It  was  too  late,  however, 


LETTER  TO  WISE  DELAWARES  269 

P.  S.  If  you  see  any  careful  Person  coming  this 
way  or  to  Mr  Madisons,-7  please  to  Send  part  of  the 
Money  to  Mr  Floyd,  as  I  was  obliged  to  advance  him 
305  Dollars  to  buy  provisions  &  shall  be  in  want  of  it 
soon.  

DELAWARES  KEEP  PEACE 

[MS.  in  Carnegie  Library,  Pittsburgh;     George  Morgan's 
Letter  Book.] 

FORT  PITT   April  i3th.  1778. 
The   United  American  States  to   the  wise  Delaware 

Council 

BROTHERS — We  have  received  your  Letter  dated 
the  6th.  inst.  we  have  considered  the  Contents  and 
are  well  pleased  with  your  repeated  professions  of 
Friendship  to  the  United  States.  It  was  to  perpetu 
ate  our  mutual  happiness  that  we  invited  a  few  of  you 
to  meet  us  at  our  Council  Fire  at  this  place,  which  we 
are  determined  to  rekindle  sometime  the  ensuing  Sum 
mer,  for  our  wise  Brethren  the  Delawares  in  particu 
lar  and  for  all  other  Nations  who  incline  to  accept  our 
Friendship,  it  was  for  this  purpose  and  to  give  you 
assurances  of  our  Friendship  that  we  desired  to  con 
sult  with  some  of  your  wise  Chiefs  and  to  know  what 
time  to  fix  for  our  Meeting  here  with  all  your  wise 
Men  and  principal  Warriors  that  we  may  determine 
together  what  steps  to  pursue  in  order  to  defeat  the 
evil  intentions  of  the  Wiandots  and  Mingoes. 


to  avert  the  murders  on  Dunkard's  Creek.     See  Clark's  letter 
of  March  30,  ante,  p.  248. — ED. 

-7  Probably  referring  to  Capt.  Thomas  Madison,  for  whom 
see  Dunmore's  War,  p.  59,  note  99. — En. 


270         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Brothers  We  have  desired  to  take  the  Tomhawk 
out  of  your  Heads  and  to  condole  with  you  on  the 
unhappy  affair  at  Beaver  Creek.  We  sent  back  your 
Women  and  we  are  sorry  you  have  had  any  occasion 
to  reproach  us.  But  Brothers  we  need  not  tell  you 
what  your  own  people  did  before  that.  We  do  not 
desire  to  recriminate,  because  that  would  appear  as 
though  we  were  in  a  bad  Temper,  and  wanted  to  quar 
rel  with  you.  Brothers  we  tell  you  that  is  not  the 
intention  of  the  United  States  or  of  any  of  them.  We 
have  always  told  you  so  and  have  never  deceived  you. 
You  must  not  look  on  what  has  been  done  as  intended 
by  our  wise  People  to  injure  you,  and  we  desire  that 
you  may  not  think  hard  of  it.  When  we  say  you, 
Brothers,  we  not  only  mean  the  wise  Council  at 
Coochocking,  but  all  Cap1 :  Pipe's  old  Council  which 
we  consider  as  the  same  with  you. 

Brothers  Wre  anxiously  wait  to  see  some  of  your 
wise  Chiefs  as  we  formerly  desired,  for  which  pur 
pose  we  will  continue  here  thirteen  days  from  the 
date  hereof.  If  they  can  arrive  sooner  it  will  be  more 
agreeable  to  [us]  as  we  have  been  greatly  disappointed 
by  being  detained  here  so  long. 

Brothers  Be  strong,  for  you  may  depend  we  will 
convince  you  of  our  Friendship :  and  that  if  you  per 
severe  in  good  works  your  Children  yet  unborn  will 
thank  you  for  taking  good  Council.  For  this  reason 
we  desire  you  will  not  listen  to  the  stories  of  Deserters 
or  other  bad  People.  We  will  convince  you  that  it  is 
not  their  Interest  to  tell  you  the  truth;  and  you  may 
rest  assured  that  the  United  States  desire  Friendship 
and  Peace  and  not  War  with  our  Indian  Brethren. 


VOLUNTEERS  FOR  THE  ILLINOIS  271 

RECRUITS  FOR  CLARK 

[Col.  George  Rogers  Clark  to  General  Hand.  i8J/3 — Trans 
cript  by  Dr.  Draper  from  "'original  in  Dr.  Tho.  A.  Emmet's 
Collection,  New  York  City."] 

REDSTONE,  April  17th  1778. 

SIR — As  I  found  by  express  from  Maj.  Smith,  that 
my  recruiters  on  Holston  River  had  been  more  suc 
cessful  that  I  expected,  in  raising  four  companies,28 
and  receiving  intelligence  of  two  companies  more  now 


28  William  Bailey  Smith  was  a  native  (1738)  of  Prince 
William  County,  Va.  He  early  migrated  to  North  Carolina, 
where  he  was  associated  with  the  Hendersons,  Harts,  etc. 
In  1775  he  was  present  at  the  Treaty  of  Sycamore  Shoals, 
and  went  out  to  Boonesborough  during  that  summer.  He  was 
likewise  in  Boonesborough  when  the  Boone  and  Calloway 
girls  were  captured  (1776),  and  aided  in  their  rescue.  During 
the  summer  of  1777  he  returned  to  the  Yadkin,  and  brought 
out  a  party  for  the  relief  of  the  beleaguered  settlements;  see 
ante,  p.  103,  note  63.  Clark  had  known  Smith  in  Kentucky 
and  gave  him  a  commission  as  major,  together  with  an  ad 
vance  of  £150  to  recruit  for  his  expedition  in  the  Holston 
settlements.  Smith's  letters  to  Clark  (Draper  MSS.,  48Ji9,20, 
printed  in  Amer.  Hist.  Review,  viii,  pp.  495-497),  dated 
March  7  and  29,  were  encouraging  and  boastful.  The  first 
reached  Clark  March  29,  and  made  him  relax  his  efforts  to 
recruit  in  the  Redstone  region.  Smith  eventually  sent  out 
but  one  small  company,  part  of  whom  deserted  when  the  des 
tination  of  the  expedition  was  made  known.  Smith  himself 
appears  to  have  arrived  at  Boonesborough  in  June  or  July. 
He  took  part  in  the  great  siege  of  that  place,  which  was  his 
last  military  service.  Having  returned  to  North  Carolina  he 
was  commissioned  to  extend  the  boundary  line  between  that 
state  and  Virginia — now  that  between  Tennessee  and  Ken 
tucky.  He  was  so  occupied  in  1779-80.  He  received  for  his 
services  a  tract  of  land  on  Green  River,  whither  he  removed 
in  1794,  settling  at  a  place  known  as  Smith's  Ferry,  not  far 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Green.  There  he  died  Oct.  19,  1818. 
For  these  and  further  particulars,  see  Draper  MSS., 
46251. — ED. 


272         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

on  their  March  from  Winchester,29  1  shall  not  attempt 
to  recruit  any  more  men  in  this  department,  as  I  be 
lieve  I  shall  have  my  full  quota,  but  shall  prepare  to 
set  out  on  the  intended  expedition  as  soon  as  possible. 
I  shall  order  what  recruits  1  have  west  of  the  Monon- 
gahela  to  repair  to  Wheeling  immediately,  where  they 
may  probably  be  of  service,  and  shall  stay  here  myself 
until  ye  arrival  of  the  troops  I  expect  across  the  Mtn. 
I  should  be  glad  to  know  by  an  answer  to  this  letter 
whether  I  am  to  receive  any  provisions  at  this  place  or 
at  Pittsburgh,  if  at  Redstone,  I  hope,  Sir,  that  you  will 
send  an  order  for  ye  receipt  of  it.  I  suppose  it  would 
at  any  rate,  be  of  service  to  take  the  boats  that  I  have 
loaded  to  Pittsburgh. 

I  should  be  glad  to  receive  my  powder,  &c.,  at  this 
post.  The  provision  boats  that  you  were  to  send 
down,  I  expect  may  be  ready  at  any  time.  If  you  will 
send  them  under  my  convoy,  I  shall  take  pleasure  in 
doing  that  or  any  other  piece  of  service  that  lays  in 
my  power.  Be  pleased  to  send  me  a  few  lines  by  y° 
bearer,  Mr  [William]  Linn,  who  will  wait  on  you  with 
this  letter.  I  am,  Sir,  Your  hbl  Serv1., 

G.  R.  CLARK. 
To  Gen.  Hand,  Pittsburgh.      Pr.  favor  Mr.  Linn. 


-!)  Of  these  two  companies,  that  of  Capt.  Leonard  Helm 
was  recruited  largely  in  Fauquier  County;  that  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Bowman  in  Frederick. — En. 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS  273 

ATTACK  ON  THE  MONONGAHELA 

[Col.  John  Evans  to  General  Hand.    2Ui3— A.  L.  S.] 

FORKS  CHEAT  April  i8th    1778. 

Dr  SIR — The  Indians  on  the  15th  Instant  on  the 
Monongahale,  Above  the  Mouth  of  Cheat  River  Killed 
and  took  ten  persons  belonging  to  Majr  Martins  Fort,30 
and  took  at  least  20  horses,  on  i6th.  Burned  a  Fort 
that  was  evacuated  3  Miles  from  the  Magazine  at  my 
house  killed  Seven  Sheep  &  skined  them  and  took  15 
horses  which  leaves  our  part  of  the  Country  in  such  a 
situation  that  the  forts  are  all  a  Breaking  the  Inhabi 
tants  all  seem  Determined  to  moove  to  some  place  of 
Safety,  for  my  part  I  shall  be  Oblidge  to  follow  them, 
and  leve  the  Provision  to  the  mercy  of  the  enemy 
Without  some  other  method  can  Speedily  take  place, 
our  Country  is  in  such  confusion,  at  this  time  that  the 
Militia  Will  not  be  Redused  to  their  Duty.  I  have 
made  bold  to  Detain  part  of  a  Company  of  the  ham- 
shire  Melitia  to  guard  the  provision  till  I  Receive  or 
ders  from  your  honour  What  is  to  be  Done,  this  part 
of  the  Country  is  much  Distresed  at  this  time  and  I 
fear  Will  be  more  so  the  Enemy  seems  to  Strike  only 
on  this  Quarter  for  farther  particulars  I  refer  you 


30  Apparently  this  is  the  affair  assigned  to  the  date  of  June, 
J779>  by  Withers  and  local  historians  who  follow  his  account ; 
see  Thwaites,  Withers,  pp.  282,  283.  Martin's  Fort  was  sit 
uated  on  Crooked  Run,  a  small  western  tributary  of  the 
Monongahela,  just  across  the  Virginia  line  in  the  present 
Monongalia  County.  Martin's  church  is  now  located  near  by. 
The  fort  was  attacked  while  most  of  its  defenders  had  gone 
to  work  on  their  farms.  Three  men  were  killed — James 
Stuart,  James  Smally,  and  Peter  Crouse ;  seven  were  taken 
prisoners,  including  sons  of  the  three  men  killed  and  one 
John  Shiver  and  his  wife. — ED. 

18 


274        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

to  the  Barer  and  am  Sir  Your  most  Obedient  humb1 

Serv1 

JOHN  EVANS 

P.  S.  We  are  Distitu[t]e  of  Amunition  and  beggs 
your  Honour  to  Assist  us  with  that  article  if  in  your 
power,  as  its  impossible  We  can  Defend  our  Selves 
without  Amunition. 

On  Public  Service 
To  His  Excellency    Gener'l  Hand   Fort  Pitt. 


BRITISH  WELCOME  McKEE 

[Henry  Hamilton  to  Alexander  McKee.      MS.   in   Canadian 
Archives;    Series  M.,  vol.  105,  fol.  13 — A.  L.  S.] 

DETROIT  Ap1  23^   1778 

DEAR  SIR — I  congratulate  you  on  your  escape,  and 
shall  be  happy  to  see  you  here  where  you  may  be  sure 
of  rinding  friends  and  sincere  ones. 

The  sooner  your  convenience  can  admit  of  your 
coming  to  this  place,  the  better,  as  I  wish  to  confer 
with  you  on  several  points  'tis  impossible  to  touch 
upon  in  a  letter.  The  newspapers  you  sent,  were  very 
acceptable,  they  shall  be  forwarded  to  Gen.  Carleton, 
whom  I  have  made  acquainted  with  your  happy  es 
cape.  The  council  to  be  held  at  this  place  and  which 
I  expect  to  be  very  full,  will  meet  on  or  about  the 
1 5th  of  May,  till  when  matters  will  remain  as  they 
are — nothing  can  exceed  the  good  temper  and  tract 
able  behaviour  of  all  the  Indians.  The  bearer  is  a  very 
spirited  young  fellow,  is  trusty  &  I  hope  by  good  be 
haviour  will  deserve  to  be  put  on  a  good  footing. 

The  Six  Nations  are  more  than  ever  attached  to 
Government  &  zealous  in  the  Cause  against  the  Rebels. 


McKEE  CONGRATULATED  275 

Considerable  reinforcements  expected  to  Canada  this 
year.    I  am  Sir  your  very  humble  Servant 

HENRY  HAMILTON. 


[Jehu  Hay  to  Alexander  McKee.    Source,  same  as  preceding 
document,  but  fol.  15 — A.  L.  S.] 

DETROIT,  April  23rd   1778 

SIR — Permit  me  to  congratulate  you  on  your  escape 
from  Fort  Pitt.  I  was  in  hopes  last  Fall  of  having 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  but  your  situation  was  such 
that  I  suppose  put  it  out  of  your  power  to  make  the 
attempt.  The  bearer  Edward  Hazel31  sets  off  imme 
diately  to  meet  you,  he  tells  me  you  desired  him  to 
bring  you  some  refreshment  which  I  should  have  been 
happy  to  send,  but.  he  goes  by  Land  and  says  he  can 
not  carry  any  thing  not  so  much  as  a  Kegg  of  Wine, 
provision  I  hope  you  will  not  want  as  there  is  people 
at  Sandusky,  and  the  Miamee  [Maumee]  River  who 
can  and  will  supply  you.  I  have  given  him  a  little  Sil 
ver  Works  &  Vermillion32  to  purchase  me  a  good 
Horse  or  two,  but  if  you  have  the  least  occasion  for 
them  pray  make  use  of  them.  I  wait  with  impatience 


31  Edward  Hazel  was  a  Loyalist  from  the  United  States, 
who  served   for  a  time  in  Butler's  rangers.     After  he  was 
employed  in  the  Indian  department,  he  was   frequently  sent 
with  messages  and  in  1782  visited  the  Cherokee  to  instigate 
them  against  the  settlements.     In  1783  he  was  discharged,  but 
afterwards  reemployed  by  the  government  as  interpreter.    He 
lived  at  Detroit  until  its  evacuation  by  the   British    (1796), 
when  he  retired  to  Maiden.  He  was  out  in  the  War  of  1812-15 
as  leader  of  the  Wyandot,  and  died  in  Amherstburg  about 
1817.    See  Draper  MSS.,  175215,  2oS2i7,  221.— ED. 

32  Articles  much  prized  by  the  Indians,  hence  used  as  cur 
rency  in  dealing  with  them. — ED. 


276         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

your  arrival,  and  asure  you  I  am  Sir  With  truth  Your 

most  Humble  servant 

JEHU  HAY 


BOAT  BUILDING 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  Capt.  Joseph  Skelton.     MS.  in  Car 
negie  Library,  Pittsburgh  ;    George  Morgan's  Letter  Book.] 

FORT  PITT   April  24th.    1778. 
To  Capt:  Joseph  Skelton, 

******** 

What  follows  being  out  of  the  particular  Line  of 
your  Duty  I  must  ask  of  you  as  a  favour.  The  Boat 
Carpenters  are  to  remove  to  this  place  and  build  the 
remainder  of  the  Boats  at  the  Point  near  my  Redoubt 
or  under  the  Council  House.  I  shall  therefore  want 
you  to  hire  of  Major  Smallman  the  little  House  where 
Miller  lives  for  the  use  of  the  Carpenters  and  Sawyers 
for  whom  Mrs.  Gibson33  will  cook.  She  is  on  that  ace1 : 
to  draw  Provisions  with  them.  You  can  order  them  a 
Barrel  of  Salt  Pork  and  Beef  and  a  Barrel  of  Flour 
at  a  time  and  whenever  there  is  fresh  Meat  you  can 
give  an  order  for  what  Mrs.  Gibson  may  require  of  all 
which  keep  an  Ace1,  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  settle 
their  Ration  Ace*,  on  my  return. 

The  Carpenters  and  Sawyers  are  to  bring  down  in 
the  Boats  now  preparing  to  be  launch'd,  all  their  Tools, 
Crooked  Timber,  Boards  and  Plank.  The  Crooked 
or  other  Timber  which  they  may  hereafter  want,  they 


33  Not  the  wife  of  Col.  John  Gibson,  but  of  another  John 
Gibson,  a  trader  and  laborer  at  Pittsburgh.  He  secured  sup 
plies  at  that  place  for  George  Rogers  Clark,  and  several  of 
his  letters  are  among  the  Clark  papers  in  the  Wisconsin 
Historical  Library. — ED. 


BOAT  BUILDING  277 

must  cut  either  toward  Elliott's  Bullock  Pens  or 
General  Hand's  place,34  paying  the  Owner  of  the  Tim 
ber  a  reasonable  price.  The  Quarter  Master  must  be 
applied  to  for  Teams  and  for  a  Boat  to  transport  2oM 
feet  of  Boards  and  plank  (which  I  have  purchased 
from  Benjamin  Kuykendall)35  from  the  Mill  to  Fort 
Pitt  which  must  be  piled  and  stuck  near  my  House  to 
season.  I  would  beg  that  this  be  done  without  delay. 
You  must  also  hire  a  House  or  Boat  Carpenter  or  two, 
or  some  other  handy  person  to  attend  on  the  Carpen 
ters,  boil  the  Pitch,  spin  Oakum  &  pick  up  the  loose 
Nails  &  Iron  which  may  drop  about  the  Yard. 

For  this  necessary  purpose  you  may  give  good 
Wages  to  a  sober  careful  handy  Fellow.  The  neces 
sary  Articles  which  are  to  come  up  the  Country  for 
the  building  of  Boats  will  be  directed  in  my  absence 
to  your  care.  Write  to  me  by  every  opportunity  and 
you  will  oblige  yours  &c 

[GEORGE  MORGAN] 


34  On  the  map  of  original  grants  in  Pittsburgh  and  environs, 
Col.  W'lliam  Elliott's  "bullock  pens"  are  located  just  north 
of  the  present  Homewood  Cemetery  in  Homewood  addition. 
Hand's  property  was  southeast  of  Chartier's  Creek  in  a  town 
ship  of  that  name.     This  information  was  kindly   furnished 
by    Harrison    W.    Craven,    librarian    of    Carnegie    Library, 
Pittsburgh. — ED. 

35  Benjamin    Kuykendall    was    an    early    resident   of    Pitts 
burgh.     In  1775  he  was  ordered  by  the  county  court  to  view 
a  road;    and  the  next  year  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  justices 
of  the  court,  which  he  frequently  attended.     In  1780  he  was 
sworn  in  as  sheriff,  and  on  Feb.  28  signed  the  record  of  the 
court — "Minute    book    of    Yohogania    County,"    in    Carnegie 
Museum  Annals,  ii,  no.  2,  p.  401. — ED. 


278        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

WESTERN  EXPEDITIONS 

[General  Hand  to  Gen.  Horatio  Gates.     aNNioo,,  110— 
Transcript.] 

FORT  PITT,  24th  April,  1778. 

SIR — Some  time  ago  I  did  myself  the  honor  to  in 
close  you  a  letter  from  his  ExcT  Govr  Henry,  Contain 
ing  a  request  to  supply  Col.  G.  R.  Clark  with  several 
articles  to  fit  him  for  a  voyage  down  the  Ohio  river  & 
recd  your  answer  on  the  premises.  Col.  Clark  has  recd 
from  me  everything  he  has  yet  desired — the  remainder 
is  ready  at  his  call. 

I  yesterday  recd  a  letter  from  his  Exc^  Making  a 
Similar  demand  in  favor  of  Col.  David  Rogers — a 
Copy  of  which  I  inclose.  I  make  no  doubt  but  Con 
gress  will  think  proper  to  direct  that  Col.  Rogers  may 
be  furnished  agreeable  to  the  Governor's  desire;  tho' 
I  can't  think  myself  authorized  to  do  it  without  their 
sanction.  I  must,  however,  beg  leave  to  remark  that 
in  my  present  Situation,  men,  arms  or  lead  cannot  be 
Supplied.  As  Col.  Rogers  is  not  yet  ready  to  pro 
ceed,  there  will  be  time  sufficient  for  Congress  to  com 
municate  their  sentiments  on  this,  or  any  future  de 
mands  made  by  his  Exc?  Govr  Henry,  without  a  pre 
vious  application  to  them. 

As  the  time  of  Col.  Clark's  departure  is  very  uncer 
tain,  I  am  preparing  to  send  Capt.  O'Hara36  with  a 
detachment  to  the  Arkansas  with  the  provisions  for 
Capt.  Willing.  *  *  * 

Desertion  prevails  here  to  a  great  degree.  Since  the 
1 8th  Jany  last,  40  men  have  deserted  from  this  small 
garrison;  last  night  14,  the  greatest  number  of  them 


36  For  this  officer,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  253,  note  I.— ED. 


GENERAL  JAMES  O'HARA 
From  Mary  C.  Darlington,  Fort  Pitt  (Pittsburgh,  1892) 


DESERTIONS  279 

of  the  guard,  went  off,  &  took  with  them  Eleazer 
Davis,  a  prisoner  formerly  mentioned  to  the  Board  of 
War— &  a  party  of  the  country  people.  I  believe  the 
Devil  has  possessed  both  the  country  and  garrison. 
A  command  of  40  men  &  4  officers  were  detached  in 
pursuit  of  these  deserters. 

Col.  Russell  of  the  13th  Virginia  regiment  has  ar 
rived  here.  He  tells  me  that  the  remainder  of  his 
reg1  are  destined  for  this  place.  I  think  it  would  be 
prudent  to  accelerate  their  march,  otherwise  our  maga 
zines  both  here  &  elsewhere  may  fall  an  easey  prey. 

[EDWARD  HAND] 

P.  S.  Except  the  murder  of  two  children  &  capture 
of  another  within  six  or  seven  Miles  of  this  place, 
the  savages  have  confined  their  visits  to  the  settle 
ments  on  Dunkard  &  Muddy  Creeks  &  Tiger's 
Valley.37  The  militia  lately  abandoned  one  of  their 
forts  in  Monongalia  County,  &  left  in  it  9,000  lbs  pork 
provided  for  their  support,  which  was  in  a  few  days 
after  the  Evacuation  set  on  fire  &  consumed  with  the 
provision. 


37  Tygart's  Valley  is  on  the  east  fork  of  the  main  Monon- 
gahela,  chiefly  in  what  is  now  Randolph  County,  W.  Va.  It 
received  its  name  from  its  first  settler,  David  Tygart,  who 
was  in  1753  driven  from  the  valley  by  Indian  depredations. 
This  site  was  not  permanently  settled  until  1772,  for  it  was 
peculiarly  exposed  to  Indian  raids,  the  famous  Shawnee  and 
other  trails  passing  through  it.  During  the  Revolution,  it 
suffered  several  times  (1777,  1779-82),  also  in  the  later  Indian 
war  (1789,  1791). — ED. 


280         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

SITUATION   AT  DETROIT 

[Gov.  Henry  Hamilton  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton.     MS.  in  Canadian 

Archives;    Series  B,  vol.  121,  fol.  100-108 — Transcript.]38 

DETROIT   25  Ap.    17/8. 

SIR — The  last  letter  I  had  the  honor  of  writing  to 
your  Excellency  was  dated  January  the  I5th  1778. 

January  the  26th.  Some  traders  to  Sandooski  hav 
ing  given  room  for  suspecting  they  were  carrying  on 
a  correspondence  with  the  Rebels,  I  ordered  a  search 
to  be  made  for  some  papers  of  which  I  had  had  notice ; 
but  though  I  was  well  assured  that  my  suspicions  were 
well  grounded,  they  eluded  the  search;  however,  upon 
examining  the  goods  carryed  out  and  comparing  them 
with  the  Invoices,  a  considerable  quantity  was  found 
for  which  a  pass  had  not  been  asked.  The  offenders 
were  fined  to  the  extent  prescribed  by  the  Ordinance 
of  Quebec. 

January  the  3Oth.  John  Montour  (formerly  men 
tioned  to  Your  Excellency)  decoyed  out  of  the  settle 
ment  three  Virginians  (Prisoners)  designing  to  have 
carried  them  to  Fort  Pitt.  Some  Indians  who  met 
them  a  few  leagues  off  and  suspected  that  they  were 
fugitives,  gave  me  notice  of  it  and  a  party  of  Volun 
teers  with  an  Indian  Officer  and  some  Savages  were 
sent  after  them,  who  took  and  brought  them  all  in, 
they  had  prepared  arms  and  meant  to  have  stood 
on  the  defensive,  but  were  surprised  and  bound. 
Montour,  at  the  earnest  solicitations  of  a  number  of 
chiefs  of  different  nations,  was  set  at  liberty  after 


38  A  transcript  of  this  document  was  made  for  Dr.  Draper 
by  the  late  Dr.  Douglas  Brymner,  and  is  found  in  Draper 
MSS.,  1 1 C96.— ED. 


AT  DETROIT  281 

some  weeks'  confinement,  the  others,  having  made  so 
bad  a  use  of  the  indulgence  shown  them,  remain  in 
irons.  The  Indians  were  highly  pleased  at  their  re 
quest  being  granted.  The  prisoners  are  to  be  sent 
down  by  the  first  vessel. 

March  the  7th.  Lieutenant  Governor  Abbot  with 
his  family  arrived  from  Ft  Vincennes,  from  his  report 
of  the  state  of  the  post,  I  am  humbly  of  opinion  it 
must  be  impossible  for  the  Ouabasha  Indians  to  be 
kept  in  order  without  a  vast  expense  in  presents  or 
the  presence  of  some  troops.  Indeed  in  all  these  Posts 
where  the  French  had  settled  a  trade  and  intercourse 
with  the  Savages,  an  Officer's  presence  with  troops  is 
much  wanted,  for  the  minds  of  the  Indians  in  remote 
posts  are  poisoned  by  the  falsehoods  and  misrepre 
sentations  of  the  French.  As  to  the  Indians  of  the 
Ouabash,  they  have  been  out  of  the  way  of  knowing 
the  power  of  the  English  and  from  a  presumption  of 
their  own  importance  will  be  arrogant  and  trouble 
some.  Monsieur  de  Celoron39  writes  me  word  from 


39  One  of  the  sons  of  Pierre  Joseph  Celoron,  former  com 
mandant  of  Detroit;  see  a  list  of  the  latter's  sons  in  Mich. 
Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  xxxiv,  p.  333.  Celoron  junior  had  been 
sent  by  Hamilton  to  command  at  the  village  known  as 
Ouiatanon,  situated  on  the  Wabash  two  or  three  miles  below 
the  site  of  the  present  Lafayette.  There  had  been  a  French 
fort  at  this  place,  which  was  destroyed  in  Pontiac's  Con 
spiracy  (1763).  It  had  now  grown  up  to  be  a  small  village. 
Its  importance  lay  in  the  fact  that  it  commanded  the  water 
route  from  Detroit  to  Vincennes.  After  the  capture  of  the 
latter  place  in  1778,  by  troops  sent  by  George  Rogers  Clark, 
a  small  detachment  was  sent  to  occupy  Ouiatanon,  whereupon 
its  commandant,  Sieur  de  Celoron,  hastily  retreated.  Hamilton 
later  claimed  that  Celoron  was  in  sympathy  with  the  American 
troops,  and  had  a  "brother  in  the  Rebel  service."  See  ///. 
Hist.  Colls.,  \,  pp.  336,  351-353,  359-— ED. 


282        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Ouiattanong,  that  some  parties  to  the  number  of  50 
men,  partly  Quigeboes,  Mascoitainges  &  Ouiatta- 
nongs,40  are  gone  to  war  toward  the  Ohio,  their 
success  is  not  yet  known.  I  have  sent  him  some  am 
munition  and  arms  &  to  gratify  those  among  them  who 
behave  well.  All  parties  going  to  war  are  exhorted  to 
act  with  humanity  as  the  means  of  securing  a  sincere 
peace  when  His  Majesty  shall  be  pleased  to  order  the 
Hatchet  to  be  buried. 

March  nth.  One  hundred  and  twenty  five  war 
riors,  Mingoes,  Shawanese  &  Delawares  with  a  num 
ber  of  wives  &  children  came  to  this  place,  they  have 
accepted  War  Belts  and  I  believe  are  too  well  con 
vinced  of  the  inability  of  the  Virginians  to  do  them 
either  much  good  or  much  harm,  not  to  be  sincere. 
The  Mingoes  delivered  me  a  young  boy,  whose  father 
they  had  killed. 

2Qth.  John  Turney  arrived  from  Quebec.  He 
brought  a  Belt  sent  by  Colonel  Butler41  addressed  to 
the  Lake  Indians  and  all  the  Western  Nations  from 
the  Six  Nations,  by  which  they  declare  their  resolu 
tion  to  support  Government  and  revenge  themselves, 
desiring  all  the  nations  of  the  Confederacy  to  act  as 
one  man — thanking  them  at  the  same  time  for  the 
zeal  and  spirit  with  which  they  acted  last  year. 

April  the  1st.  Forty  Shawanese  arrived  having  four 
prisoners,  whom  they  delivered  to  me  soon  after. 


40  Kickapoo,    Mascoutin,    and    Ouiatanon    (Wea)    Indians; 
see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  3,  note  8.    These  tribes  all  dwelt  near 
Ouiatanon  settlement. — ED. 

41  Lieut.   John    Turney   was    in    1782   commandant   at    San- 
dusky. 

For  Col.  John  Butler,  see  Ibid,  p.  152,  note  67. — ED. 


AT  DETROIT  283 

April  the  5th.  Mr.  Charles  Baubin  who  acts  at  the 
Miamis42  came  in  from  a  scout — not  having  been  able 
to  prevail  on  the  Miamis  to  act  with  spirit.  He  with  a 
young  man  named  Lorimier43  engaged  four  score 
Shawanese  from  Tchelacase  and  Pecori44  to  go  toward 
the  Fort  on  Kentuck  River,  east  of  the  Ohio  into 
which  it  discharges  directly  opposite  the  great  Minea- 
mis  or  Rocky  River.  The  Fort  is  about  30  miles  from 
the  mouth.  The  number  of  men  in  it  about  80.  Here 
they  had  the  good  fortune  to  make  prisoners  Captain 
Daniel  Boone,  with  26  of  his  men,  whom  they  brought 
off  with  their  arms  without  killing  or  losing  a  man. 
The  savages  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  attempt  the 
Fort  [Boonesborough],  which  by  means  of  their  pris 
oners  might  have  been  easily  done  with  success. 
These  Shawanese  delivered  up  four  of  their  prisoners 
to  me;  but  took  Boone  with  them  expecting  by  his 
means  to  effect  something.  By  Boone's  account,  the 
people  on  the  frontiers  have  been  so  incessantly  har- 
rassed  by  parties  of  Indians  they  have  not  been  able 
to  sow  grain ;  and  at  Kentucke  will  not  have  a  morsel 
of  bread  by  the  middle  of  June.  Cloathing  is  not  to  be 
had,  nor  do  they  expect  relief  from  the  Congress — 


42  Charles  Beaubien  belonged  to  a  prominent  Detroit  family, 
and  was  official  interpreter  and  acting  commandant  at  Fort 
Miami  and  the  Miami  village  on  the  site  of  the  present  Fort 
Wayne.    He  was  accused  by  Hamilton  (1778-79)  of  collusion 
with  the  Americans,  but  succeeded  in  clearing  himself.     In 
1780  he  resisted  the  attack  of  Mottin  de  la  Balme  (see  Wis. 
Hist.  Colls.,  xviii,  p.  416,  note  23).    He  married  the  widow  of 
Chief  Richardville,  but  left  no  descendants. — ED. 

43  For  a  sketch  of  this  person,  see  Rev.  Upper  Ohio,  p.  144, 
note  49.     The  given  name  should  be  Louis,  not  Peter. — ED. 

44  Chillicothe  and  Piqua  Indian  towns,  for  which  see  Ibid, 
PP-  J5.  57.  notes  30  and  87  respectively. — ED. 


234         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

their  dilemma  will  probably  induce  them  to  trust  to 
the  savages,  who  have  shewn  so  much  humanity  to 
their  prisoners  &  come  to  this  place  before  winter. 

The  Placarts  from  this  place  having  found  their  way 
among  the  inhabitants  &  one  in  particular  signed  by 
several  Prisoners  who  were  saved  by  the  Indians,  was 
seen  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Morgan  at  Fort  Pitt,  who 
refused  to  let  it  be  public;  however,  I  believe  he  will 
[not]  be  able  to  keep  up  his  credit  much  longer. 

April  the  2Oth.  Edward  Hazle  (who  had  under 
taken  to  carry  a  letter  from  me  to  the  Moravian  Min 
ister  at  Kushayhking)45  returned  having  executed  his 
commission.  He  brought  me  a  letter  &  newspaper 
from  Mr.  McKee  who  was  Indian  agent  for  the  Crown 
and  has  been  a  long  time  in  the  hands  of  the  Rebels 
at  Fort  Pitt,  at  length  has  found  means  to  make  his 
escape  with  three  other  men,  two  of  the  name  of  Girty 
(mentioned  in  Lord  Dunmore's  list)  [an]  Interpreter 
and  Matthew  Elliott,  the  young  man  who  was  last 
summer  sent  down  from  this  place  a  prisoner.  This 
last  person  I  am  informed  has  been  at  New  York  since 
he  left  Quebec,  and  probably  finding  the  change  in 
affairs  unfavorable  to  the  Rebels,  has  slipped  away  to 
make  his  peace  here. 

23rd.  Hazle  went  off  again  to  conduct  them  all  safe 
thro'  the  village,  having  a  letter  and  Wampum  for  that 
purpose.  Alexander  McKee  is  a  man  of  good  char 
acter,  and  has  great  influence  with  the  Shawanese  is 
well  acquainted  with  the  country  &  can  probably  give 
some  usefull  intelligence,  he  will  probably  reach  this 


45  David    Zeisberger    at    Coshocton ;     sec    Ibid,    p.    45,    note 
71.— ED. 


AT  DETROIT  285 

place  in  a  few  days.  In  his  letter  to  me  dated  Kushay- 
king  April  4th  he  mentions  that  no  expeditions  of  any 
consequence  can  be  undertaken  by  the  Virginians  from 
Fort  Pitt  thro'  the  Delaware  villages,  hitherward ;  but 
that  they  meditated  some  attempt  against  the  villages 
upon  French  Creek  (Riviere  au  Boeuf)  and  that  he 
had  information  from  some  Delawares  that  six  hun 
dred  men  were  to  set  out  on  that  design  the  8th  of 
April,  but  that  the  savages  being  forewarned  their 
scheme  must  fail. 

I  have  written  to  Col1.  Bolton46  to  acquaint  him  & 
Col1.  Butler  of  this  as  also  that  a  party  from  Fort  Pitt 
had  fallen  on  a  Delaware  village  &  killed  or  carried  off 
eight  persons;  but  that  unfortunately  for  the  Rebels, 
they  had  struck  in  the  wrong  place  &  have  sent  back 
two  squaws  who  were  prisoners  to  atone  for  their 
error. 

25th  of  April.  Governor  Abbott  communicated 
to  me  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr. 


46  Lt.  Col.  Mason  Bolton  of  the  34th  Royal  artillery  had 
seen  much  service  in  America,  having  campaigned  in  Florida 
and  the  West  Indies,  and  at  one  time  been  at  Mackinac  and 
the  Illinois.  In  1777  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  important 
post  at  Niagara,  being  occupied  not  only  with  forwarding 
supplies  but  with  controlling  and  propitiating  the  Indians, 
chiefly  of  the  Six  Nations.  The  best  account  of  his  conduct 
of  the  post  at  Niagara  is  to  be  found  in  Frank  H.  Severance, 
Old  Trails  upon  the  Niagara  Frontier  (Buffalo,  1909), 
pp.  63-106.  Bolton  was  at  his  own  request  relieved  of  duty 
at  Niagara,  and  left  there  late  in  October,  1780,  on  the  vessel 
"Ontario",  which  foundered  in  the  lake  of  the  same  name,  all 
on  board  perishing. — ED. 


286         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

de   Rocheblave   to  one   Bosseron47   at   St.   Vincennes 
dated  Feby.  28th.  78 : 

Par  un  deserteur48  arrive  du  Fort  Pitt  nous  avons  apris 
que  le  Peuple  de  Philadelphie  ayant  secoue  le  joug  du  Con- 
gres  avait  leve  la  chaine  qui  empechoit  les  vaisseaux  du  Roi 
de  venir  et  avoit  par  ce  moyen  rentre  sous  1'obeissance  de  sa 
Majeste.  Que  le  Congres  avoit  fui  precipittament  vers  les 
Montagnes  apres  1'entiere  deroute  de  son  armee  que  le  peuple 
soupirant  ardemment  apres  la  paix  pour  sortir  de  la  plus 
affreuse  misere  et  que  les  chefs  des  troubles  sauvoient  leurs 
effets  par  la  route  de  Fort  Pitt. 

Un  batteau  descendant  de  ce  dit  Fort  a  pris  les  Sieurs 
Becquets  et  leur  pacquets.  Mr  La  Chence49  a  subi  le  meme 


47  Phillippe  Francois  Rastel,  Sieur  de  Rocheblave,  was  born 
in  France  and  served  for  a  time  in  the  army.     Coming  to 
New  France  about  1750  he  entered  the  colonial  army  as  a 
cadet,  and  was  employed  about  Fort  Duquesne  and  on  the 
Illinois  frontier.     At  the  close  of  the  war  he  retired  to  Kas- 
kaskia,  and  was  there  married  in  1763.     Later  he  crossed  the 
river,  and  was  for  a  time  connected  with  the  Spanish  govern 
ment  at  Ste.  Genevieve.     In  1776,  the  last  British  officer  who 
retired  from  Kaskaskia  left  Sieur  de  Rocheblave  in  command, 
but  without  a  garrison  or  any  support.     July  4,  1778,  he  was 
captured   by   George   Rogers    Clark   and   sent   a   prisoner   to 
Virginia.     There  he  evaded  his  parole,  and  returned  to  the 
British  at  New  York.     He  finally  retired  to  Lower  Canada, 
where  he  died  in  1802  at  Varennes. 

Frangois  Bosseron  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  Vincennes  and  was  enrolled  in  the  British  militia  forces. 
On  the  approach  of  the  Americans  he  gave  them  his  enthusi 
astic  support  and  took  office  under  Clark.  He  acted  with 
Capt.  Leonard  Helm  in  the  Wabash  expedition  (1779),  and 
furnished  ammunition  for  the  invading  army.  He  was  later 
district  commandant  and  territorial  judge,  dying  at  Vincennes 
in  1791  and  being  buried  in  the  churchyard.  A  street  in 
Vincennes  still  bears  his  name. — ED. 

48  The    name    of    this    deserter    was    Henry    Butler,    from 
Pennsylvania;     see    his    examination    in    ///.    Hist.    Colls.,    i, 
PP.  304-306.— ED. 

49  Jean    Baptiste    and    Charles    Becquets    were    traders    at 
Cahokia — see    letter    of    Morgan,   post.      Nicolas    Caillot    dit 
Lachanse  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Kaskaskia,  and  reputed 
to  be  an  especial  friend  of  Rocheblave.     These  captures  were 
made    by    Willing's    boat — see    Chicago    Historical     Society 
Collections,  iv,  p.  402.     Lachanse  was  absent  from  Kaskaskia 


AT  DETROIT  287 

sort  avec  son  eau  de  vie,  quoique  les  colons  n'ayent  jamais 
rec.u  de  deplaisir  de  ce  pays  preuve  bien  certaine  qu'ils  le 
menageroient  peu,  s'il  y  parvenoient  en  force.  Certains  bruits 
qui  courent  de  la  mauvaise  disposition  des  sauvages  m  'en- 
gagent  a  parler  au  chefs  des  loups. 

Je  vous  prie  si  vous  etes  a  porte  de  les  engager  a  me  venir 
voir.50 

This  letter  of  Mr.  Rocheblave  explains  in  part  the 

accounts  given  by  the  Delawares  of  parties  forming 
for  Riviere  au  Boeuf,  which  can  only  be  calculated  to 
draw  off  the  attention  of  the  Delawares  from  the  lower 
part  of  the  Ohio.  I  shall  if  possible  lay  a  bar  in  the 
way  of  the  communication  to  N.  Orleans.  Your  Ex 
cellency's  orders  and  instructions  which  I  am  in  hourly 
expectation  of  receiving  by  Mr.  LaMothe51  will  be  my 
guide  for  my  conduct. 


at  the  time  of  its  capture  by  Clark.  He  was  judge  in  1779 
and  again  in  1787,  retiring  scon  after  to  the  Spanish  side  of 
the  Mississippi.  See  ///.  Hist.  Colls.,  v,  p.  50,  note  7. — ED. 

50  Translation :     By  a  deserter  arrived  from  Fort  Pitt  we 
have  been  informed  that  the  people  of   Philadelphia  having 
shaken  off  the  yoke  of  Congress  had  removed  the  chain  that 
prevented  the  King's  ships  from  getting  in  and  had  thus  re 
turned  to  obedience  to  His  Majesty.     But  Congress  had  fled 
precipitately  toward  the  mountains,   after  the  complete  rout 
of  its  army  and  that  the  people  were  sighing  earnestly  after 
peace,   to   escape   the   most    frightful   miseries,   and   that  the 
chiefs  of  the  troubles  were  saving  their  effects  by  way  of 
Fort  Pitt. 

A  batteau  coming  down  from  this  Fort  has  taken  the 
Sieurs  Becquets  and  their  peltries ;  Mr.  La  Chence  has  met 
the  same  fate  with  his  brandy  although  the  settlers  [of  Ken 
tucky]  never  received  any  ill  treatment  from  this  Country. 
This  is  a  very  good  evidence  of  the  manner  in  which  they 
would  act,  if  they  should  reach  there  in  large  numbers.  Cer 
tain  rumours  current  as  to  the  bad  disposition  of  the  Indians 
led  me  to  speak  to  the  chief  (or  chiefs)  of  the  Loups 
[Delawares]. 

I  request  if  you  are  in  a  position  to  do  so,  to  induce  them 
to  come  and  see  me. 

51  Guillaume  la  Mothe  was  a  French  Canadian  who  entered 
the  British  service.    Born  about  1744,  he  was  in  1767  a  trader 


288         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

25th  April    1778.     Mr.   LaMothe   not   yet   arrived. 

A  Huron  of  that  band  settled  at  Lorette  named 
datahyjas  has  been  lately  at  Fort  Pitt  and  says  Mr. 
Bentley52  supplied  ammunition  &c.  to  the  Rebels,  he 
also  confirms  the  reports  of  the  intercourse  between 
the  Spaniards  and  the  Virginian  delegates. 


in  the  neighborhood  of  Detroit.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Revolution  he  was  in  New  England;  whence  he  retired  to 
Quebec  and  soon  returned  to  Detroit,  where  in  1777  he  be 
came  captain  of  a  scouting  party.  Apparently  he  was  in 
Quebec  when  this  letter  was  written.  The  next  autumn,  as 
captain  of  militia,  he  accompanied  Hamilton  to  Vincennes, 
where  he  was  captured  (1779)  and  sent  prisoner  to  Virginia. 
There  he  was  kept  in  close  confinement  until  exchanged 
(1781).  The  following  year  found  him  at  Detroit.  In  1792 
he  was  appointed  interpreter  at  Mackinac,  until  removed  from 
that  position  in  November,  1795.  He  retired  with  the  British 
to  St.  Joseph  Island  (1796),  where  he  died  in  1799. — ED. 

52  Thomas  Bentley  was  a  prominent  merchant  of  Kaskaskia 
during  the  British  period,  having  come  to  that  place  from 
London  and  West  Florida.  Jn  1777  ne  married  into  a  French 
family,  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  was  arrested  at 
Mackinac  by  order  of  Governor  Hamilton,  who  accused  him 
of  furnishing  supplies  to  American  boats.  He  was  detained 
prisoner  in  Canada  until  1780,  when  he  managed  to  escape, 
and  by  August  was  in  the  West.  His  letters  prove  his  treach 
ery  and  double  dealing,  trying  to  keep  in  touch  with  British 
and  American  officials  at  the  same  time — see  ///.  Hist.  Colls., 
v,  passim.  In  1783  Bentley  went  to  Virginia  to  settle  his  ac 
counts,  and  appears  to  have  died  in  Richmond.  John  Dodge 
was  his  partner,  and  the  executor  of  his  estate. — ED. 


IGNORANCE  OF  SPANISH  289 

RELATIONS  WITH  SPANIARDS 

[Col.  George  Morgan  to  Governor  Galvez.     MS.  in  Carnegie 
Library,  Pittsburgh;    George  Morgan's  Letter  Book.] 

FORT  PITT  April  26th.  1778. 
To  His  Excellency  Don  Bernardo  De  Galvez  Governor 

General  of  Louisiana™ 

SIR — On  the  24th.  of  February  I  had  the  honor  to 
receive  your  Letter  dated  the  9th.  of  August  last.  Not 
having  the  happiness  to  understand  the  Spanish  Lan 
guage  I  immediately  transmitted  your  Letter  by  Ex 
press  to  Congress — but  unfortunately  not  a  Member 
of  that  Body  understands  it  nor  has  any  Person  been 
yet  found  capable  &  worthy  of  Trust  to  translate  it. 
Wherefore  his  Excellency  the  President  has  directed 
me  to  present  his  Compliments  to  you,  he  laments 
this  disappointment  and  will  do  himself  the  honor  to 
write  to  you  the  moment  he  can  procure  a  translation 
of  your  Excellency's  Letter. 

Should  you  do  Congress  the  honour  to  write  to 
them,  or  should  you  again  favour  me,  I  would  beg 
leave  to  solicit  your  Indulgence  by  requesting  you  to 
do  it  in  English  or  in  French,  in  which  we  can  be  at 


53  Bernardo  de  Galvez,  governor-general  of  Louisiana,  was 
born  in  Spain  in  1756;  his  father  was  long  viceroy  of  Mexico; 
his  uncle,  Jose  de  Galvez,  was  a  minister  of  state.  In  1777 
Bernardo  arrived  in  New  Orleans.  He  married  a  French 
creole,  and  was  very  popular  with  his  subjects.  His  sympa 
thies  with  the  Americans  were  keen,  and  he  supplied  them 
with  munitions  of  war.  During  the  war  between  Spain  and 
Great  Britain,  Galvez  energetically  took  the  offensive  and  cap 
tured  the  English  forts  at  Manchac,  Baton  Rouge,  Natchez, 
and  Mobile.  In  1781  he  made  a  brilliant  campaign  against 
Pensacola,  which  fell  into  his  hands.  Upon  the  death  of  his 
father  (1785),  Galvez  became  Mexican  viceroy  in  his  stead, 
which  office  he  held  until  his  own  demise  in  1794. — ED. 

19 


290         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

no  loss,  and  least  Congress  may  not  procure  an  Inter 
preter  for  your  late  Letter,  your  causing  it  to  be  trans 
lated  into  English  or  French  and  transmitted  by  the 
first  opportunity  will  be  gratefully  accepted  as  a  very 
polite  Condesension  and  particular  favour. 

I  send  this  by  the  Boats  which  go  to  meet  Cap1 : 
Willing,  and  as  it  may  be  acceptable  to  you  to  be  in- 
form'd  of  the  particular  occurrences  of  the  War  since 
the  date  of  my  Letter  in  April  1777,  and  of  the  present 
situation  of  our  Affairs  I  take  the  liberty  to  give  you  a 

short  detail  thereof.54 
******** 

If  I  can  hereafter  contribute  to  your  amusement  or 
information,  I  will  do  myself  the  honor.  I  am  with 
very  great  Respect  Sir,  Your  very  obedient  £  most 

humble  serv*: 

[GEORGE  MORGAN] 


[Col.  George  Morgan  to  Francisco  Cruzat.      Source,  same  as 
preceding  document.] 

To  Don  Francisco  Cruzai  Esquire    Commanding  for 
his  most  Catholic  Majesty  at  S*:  Louis,  Illinois*5 
SIR — The  24th.  of  February  I  had  the  honor  to  re 
ceive  your  Letter  of  the  iQth.  of  November  last,  with 


54  The  portion  omitted  recounts  the  events  of  the  Revolu 
tion  during  1777. — ED. 

55  Col.   Francisco  Cruzat  was  a  Spanish  army  officer,  who 
in    1775    was    appointed    governor    of    Spanish    Illinois,    with 
headquarters   at   St.    Louis.      In    1778   he   was    superseded   by 
Francisco  de  Leyba,  whom  Clark  (July,  1778)   found  in  com 
mand  at  that  place.     Upon  De  Leyba's  death   (1780),  Cruzat 
was  again  returned  to   St.   Louis  and  remained  in  command 
until  Nov.  27,  1787.     He  was  a  popular  and  efficient  adminis 
trator,  and  in  sympathy  with  the  Americans. — En. 


IGNORANCE  OF  SPANISH  291 

one  inclosed  from  Don  Bernardo  De  Galvez  Governor 
of  Louisiana. 

Being  ignorant  of  the  Spanish  Language  I  imme 
diately  transmitted  his  Excellency  the  Governor's  Let 
ter  by  Express  to  Congress — But  unhappily  not  a 
Member  of  that  Body  understands  it,  nor  has  any  Per 
son  been  yet  found  capable  to  translate  the  Letter. 
This  has  been  the  occasion  of  my  not  having  done  my 
self  the  pleasure  of  answering  your  Letter  till  now. 

As  several  Boats  are  shortly  to  leave  this  for  New 
Orleans  I  shall  do  myself  the  honor  to  forward  by 
them  such  Dispatches  as  may  arrive  for  his  Excellency 
the  Governor. 

During  the  time  of  waiting  the  orders  of  Congress, 
I  had  occasion  to  send  a  Messenger  to  the  Delaware 
Nation — Michael  the  Huron,  offering  his  services,  I 
employ'd  him,  and  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you,  that  he 
is  taken  Prisoner  by  some  of  his  own  Nation  and  a 
Party  of  English  who  were  employ'd  by  the  Com 
mandant  of  Detroit  and  carried  to  that  Post.  I  how 
ever  hope  he  will  be  very  speedily  released,  and  more 
especially  as  he  is  a  subject  of  Spain,  and  was  em 
ploy'd  on  a  mere  friendly  Message  to  the  Delawares. 

I  have  paid  to  Baptist  Bequette  the  ballance  due  to 
himself  &  Michael  as  stated  in  the  within  Account  and 
have  paid  all  their  Expences  during  their  detention 
here,  which  on  my  part  was  unavoidable. 

You  may  be  assured  Sir,  that  nothing  but  the  want 
of  hard  money  has  induced  me  to  settle  the  account  in 
the  manner  I  have  done.  I  must  also  make  the  same 
apology  for  giving  Michael  a  Bill  of  Exchange  last 


292         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

year  on  Messrs:  Winston  &  Kennedy  at  Kaskaskias.50 
I  am  indeed  much  mortified  at  that  Bill  not  having 
been  paid,  although  those  Gentlemen  have  very  consid 
erable  sums  of  mine  in  their  hands.  I  impute  their 
conduct  to  their  fears  of  Monsr :  Rochblave  who  I  am 
told  has  been  too  severe  with  others  who  are  deemed 
Friends  to  the  Americans. 

This  reason  I  expect  will  now  be  removed  &  I  doubt 
not  but  my  draft  will  be  punctually  paid. 


r'6  Winston  and  Kennedy  were  merchants  at  Kaskaskia,  and 
about  this  time  acted  as  Morgan's  agents.  Richard  Winston 
was  a  Virginian,  at  one  time  sheriff  of  Orange  County,  who 
was  trading  in  the  \Vestern  country  at  the  time  of  the  French 
cession.  When  Pontiac's  War  broke  out  (1763)  he  was  at. 
the  fort  at  Ouiatanon,  where  he  was  robbed  of  £2400  worth 
of  goods.  In  compensation  he  was  granted  1200  shares  in  the 
Indiana  Company,  and  entered  the  Illinois  region  as  soon  as 
British  traders  could  be  protected.  In  1766  he  accompanied 
an  expedition  to  Kaskaskia ;  see  Jennings's  "Journal",  in 
Pa.  Hist.  Magazine,  xxxi,  p.  145.  His  sympathies  were  with 
the  American  cause,  and  Clark  appointed  him  captain  in  his 
forces;  see  ///.  Hist.  Colls.,  v,  p.  47.  The  succeeding  year 
he  was  chosen  sheriff  by  John  Todd,  and  when  the  latter  left 
the  Illinois,  Winston  was  appointed  deputy  lieutenant-gov 
ernor.  In  this  capacity  he  had  difficulties  both  with  the  mili 
tary  authorities  and  with  the  French  inhabitants,  and  in  1782 
abolished  the  civic  court  that  Todd  had  established.  The 
following  year  he  went  to  Richmond  to  have  his  claims  set 
tled  ;  and  after  spending  eighteen  months  in  fruitlessly  en 
deavoring  to  arrange  with  the  government,  he  died  in  poverty 
in  the  autumn  of  1784.  The  council  endorsed  his  claims  as 
"reasonable"  (Draper  MSS.,  118150),  but  it  does  not  appear 
that  they  were  ever  paid.  In  1786  his  wife  was  reported  to 
be  reduced  from  affluence  to  indigence  (Ibid,  4J35-38). 
Consult  also  ///.  Hist.  Colls.,  ii,  v,  passim. 

Patrick  Kennedy  went  to  the  Illinois  country  in  1766  as  a 
batteau  man.  He  succeeded  in  his  business  ventures  and 
became  one  of  the  merchants  of  Kaskaskia.  In  1773  he  made 
a  journey  up  the  Illinois  in  search  of  copper  mines.  Clark 
appointed  him  deputy  commissary,  in  which  capacity  he  was 
still  acting  in  1781. — ED. 


IGNORANCE  OF  SPANISH  293 

Notwithstanding  I  am  so  unhappy  as  to  be  totally 
ignorant  of  the  Spanish  Language,  &  my  long  want  of 
Practice  in  the  French,  puts  it  out  of  my  power  to 
comply  with  your  desire,  by  writing  in  one  of  those 
Tongues,  I  cannot  forego  the  pleasure  of  communi 
cating  to  you,  in  English,  the  very  happy  situation  of 
our  Affairs,  compared  to  the  state  the  World  might 
have  expected  to  have  seen  them  by  this  time.  Indeed 
our  success  has  exceeded  our  most  sanguine  expecta 
tions;  and  by  the  blessing  of  God  we  now  have  the 
happy  Certainty  of  securing  to  ourselves  and  to  our 
Posterity  the  inestimable  blessings  of  Peace,  Liberty 
and  Safety.57 


CONGRESS  PLANS  FOR  THE  WEST 

[Resolutions   of   Congress.      4NN6o,  70 — Transcript.] 

IN  CONGRESS,  May  2d,  1778 

Resolved — That  two  Regiments  be  Raised  in  Vir 
ginia  &  Pennsylvania  to  serve  for  one  Year  unless 
sooner  discharg'd  by  Congress,  for  the  Protection  & 
operation  on  the  Western  Frontiers,  twelve  Companies 
in  Virginia  and  four  in  Pennsylvania,  each  Non- 
Commission'd  Officer  &  Soldier  to  Receive  twenty 
Dollars  Bounty,  and  same  Clothing  with  the  Other 
Continental  Soldiers.  Every  non-Commission'd  Offi 
cer  &  Soldier  who  shall  find  his  own  Blanket,  Musquet 
or  Riffle  &  Accutrements  shall  have  the  same  Allow 
ance  given  by  Congress  to  the  Draughts  from  the 
Militia  for  filling  up  the  Continental  Regiments. 


57  What  follows  is  a  repetition  of  that  written  to  Galvez ; 
see  ante,  p.  290,  note  54. — ED. 


294         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

That  Brigadier  General  Hand  be  recalled  from  his 
Command  on  the  Western  Frontier,  agreeable  to  his 
request. 

That  a  proper  Officer  be  immediately  sent  to  take 
the  Command  on  the  Western  Frontier. 

That  a  proper  Person  be  appointed  to  perform  the 
Duties  of  Quarter  Master,  Commissary  &  Pay  Master 
to  the  Militia  of  Rockingham,  Augusta,  Rockbridge, 
Botetourt,  Montgomery,  Washington,  &  Green  Brier 
in  Virginia. 

That  the  Commissioners  at  Fort  [Pitt],  or  in  their 
Absence,  the  Officer  appointed  to  Command  on  the 
Western  Frontiers,  be  Authorised  to  appoint  a  Person 
to  perform  the  Duties  aforesaid,  &  the  Officers  neces 
sary  for  Commanding  the  Battalions  above  Mentioned. 

That  General  Washington  be  desired  to  appoint  the 
Officer  to  take  the  Command  at  Fort  Pitt,  and  that  a 
Copy  of  the  Commissioner's  Letter  be  sent  to  the 
General.  Extracts  from  the  Minutes. 

CHARLES  THOMSON  Sec. 


SCOUTING  PARTY  ON  THE  FRONTIER 

[Andrew  Robinson  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     2Ui7 — A.  L.  S.] 
FORT  HENRY    May  the  I5th    1778. 

SIR — Agreeable    to    Order    I    waited    on    Captain 
Ritchey58  who  informs  me  that  he  will  furnish  me  with 


58  Either  Matthew  or  Craig  Ritchie,  brothers  from  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  who  emigrated  to  America  in  1772  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  Washington  County. 

In  1778  Matthew  was  chosen  sheriff  of  Yohogania  County, 
and  in  1781  stib-lieutenant  of  the  county.  He  was  in  the  state 
legislature,  1782-84;  and  was  justice  and  deputy-surveyor  of 
Washington  County,  dying  near  th3  borough  of  Washington 
in  1798. 


A  FRONTIER  SCOUT  295 

the  necessary  quantities  of  Flour  till  all  the  wheat  on 
hand  is  Ground  and  will  deliver  the  Same  at  the  Cove 
at  any  time  after  date.  I  have  informed  the  com 
manding  Officer  at  Fort  Henry  (Captn  Hutton)  he 
Seems  to  dread  Sending  up  the  River  but  will  I  hope 
Comply. 

a  Difficulty  in  Kegs  and  bags  I  shall  endeavour  to 
Remedy.  I  have  about  500  Bushels  of  Indian  Corn  on 
hand  in  this  Neighbourhood  which  I  shall  have 
Ground/}  Jthis  Meal  with  what  we  shall  get  from  Mr 
Richey  will  be  Sufficient  till  a  greater  Supply  can  be 
had  from  some  other  Quarter  of  which  I  shall  if  not 
Possible  to  furnish  give  timely  Notice. 

Sir  I  have  Received  a  line  from  Col°  McFarland  of 
Monongahela  County  desiring  me  to  Suply  a  Detach 
ment  From  Said  County  engaged  for  3  Months  Ser 
vice  having  Receved  a  bounty  of  20  dollars  and  up 
wards  each  59  men  of  which  are  Now  lying  at  the 
Confluence  of  Fish  Creek  and  are  to  be  Augmented  to 
150  in  2  weeks.  They  have  out  Spyes  on  both  Sides 
of  the  River  and  observe  the  most  Profound  Silence 
Sending  out  the  Spies  in  the  Night  and  as  they  find 
the  Place  has  been  much  frequented  in  the  enemys 
Crossing  they  entertain  hopes  of  intercepting  them.59 
When  their  Number  is  Compleat  they  Purpose  to  Re- 
coniture  Down  the  River  as  far  as  Middle  Island 


Craig  Ritchie  was  a  captain  of  militia,  and  in  that  capacity 
was  out  with  Crawford  in  1782;  Ritchie  settled  in  Canons- 
burg  and  became  a  prominent  merchant.  He  served  in  the 
legislature,  1793-95,  and  died  in  1833.— ED. 

59  For  the  pay-roll  of  this  company  of  scouts,  see  post, 
P-  305-— ED. 


296         FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

Creek60  and  Place  themselves  as  they  shall  deem  best 
either  in  Large  or  Smaller  Parties  as  they  find  the  dis 
position  of  the  enemy  and  their  safety  may  best  Suit. 

Sir  I  give  this  intelligence  in  Substance  as  I  Re 
ceived  it  of  Mr  John  Maddison61  Liu1  who  Came  up 
with  Col°  McFarlands  Letter.  Captn  John  Wheetsell 
commands  The  Party.62 

Sir  If  I  can  Serve  the  Publick  or  your  honor 
Please  to  Command  me  by  a  Line  with  the  bearer  and 
find  a  Ready  Compliance  from  your  Humble  and  obe 
dient  Servant 

ANDW  ROBINSON^ 

P.  S.    a  party  coming  up  from  Fish  Creek  for  meal 


60  For     this     locality,     see     Rev,     Upper     Ohio,     p.     213, 
note  55.— ED. 

61  John    Madison  Jr.   was   the   son   of  the  person   noted   in 
Dunmore's  War,  p.  280,  note  98.     The  younger  John  lived  in 
Monongalia    County,    and    was    ensign    of    this    company    of 
scouts.     In  1780  he  obtained  a  commission  as  surveyor  of  the 
county,   and   continued   his  surveys   until  his  untimely   death, 
late  in  1783  or  early  in  1784.     See  his  letters  and  those  of  his 
brothers  concerning  him,  in  Draper  MSS.,  57774-79. — ED. 

62  Capt  John  Wetzel  was  born  in  Switzerland,  about  1733. 
Migrating  to   America  with  his  parents  when   he  was  seven 
years  old,  he  settled  in  Rockingham  County,  where  were  born 
his  well-known  sons,  Martin,  Lewis,  Jacob,  George,  and  John. 
About  1769  he  removed  to  the  West  and  settled  on  Wheeling 
Creek,  nearly  fourteen  miles  above  its  mouth.     Probably  dur 
ing  the  Indian  troubles  of  1774,  he  removed  his  family  to  the 
Monongahela,  while  himself  acting  with  Dunmore  as  a  scout. 
At  the  close  of  this  war,  he  returned  to  his  home  on  Wheeling 
Creek  and   for  some  time  was  captain  of  a  ranger  company. 
In    1777  his   sons  Lewis   and  Jacob   were   captured,   but   suc 
ceeded  in  escaping.     Martin  was  taken  in  April,  1778,  and  was 
with  the  Shawnee  twro  years  and   four  months.     Capt.  John 
Wetzel  was  killed  in  the  summer  of  1786  or  T787/while  trap 
ping  alone   near  the   mouth   of   Captina   Creek;     see    Draper 
MSS.,  2E8-TO,  24546,  8NN25.— ED. 

63  Andrew  Robinson  seems  to  have  been  a  trader  and  officer 
of  militia,  resident  in  Pittsburgh  during  1779-81. — ED. 

/  /  S    / 


McINTOSH  TO  SUCCEED  HAND  297 

Tracked  two  Indians  but  a  few  minutes  before  them 

as  a  Shower  of  Rain  convinced  them  &c. 

A.  R. 

To  His  Excellency,  General  Edward  Hand. 


NEWS  OF  THE  FRENCH  ALLIANCE 

[George  Morgan  to  Gen.  Edward  Hand.     2Ui8 — A.  L.  S.] 
YORK  TOWN  [PA.]  May  i6th   1778. 

DEAR  SIR — Long  live  his  Most  Christian  Majesty. 
I  congratulate  you  on  the  Certainty  of  our  alliance 
with  him,  on  the  respective  Ambassadors  of  Brittain 
&  France  being  recalled  &c  &c  &c.  The  particulars  of 
all  which  the  Papers  I  have  directed  Mr  Boreman  to 
deliver  to  you  with  this,  will  fully  inform  you. 

The  Appointment  of  an  Officer  to  succeed  you  was 
referred  by  Congress  to  his  Excellency  General 
Washington  who  has  named  General  Mclntosh64  who 


64  Gen.  Lachlan  Mclntosh  was  born  in  1725  in  the  Scotch 
Highlands.  When  he  was  eleven  years  of  age  his  father  emi 
grated  with  his  family  to  Georgia,  and  became  the  agent  of 
the  Georgia  trustees  for  the  Highland  settlement  of  New 
Inverness.  In  wars  with  the  Spaniards,  the  elder  Mclntosh 
was  captured  and  sent  prisoner  to  Spain ;  he  returned  broken 
in  health  and  soon  died.  The  sons  were  educated  by  their 
mother.  At  the  time  of  the  Scotch  uprising  in  behalf  of  the 
Pretender  (1745),  Lachlan  and  his  elder  brother  attempted 
to  return  home;  but  were  prevented  by  the  authority  of 
General  Oglethorpe.  Lachlan  spent  much  of  his  youth  in 
Charleston  as  a  protege  of  Henry  Laurens,  who  had  a  warm 
friendship  for  him.  Having  married,  Mclntosh  returned  to 
Georgia,  and  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  was  called 
upon  to  head  the  colony  troops.  Their  first  engagement  witli 
British  men-of-war  at  Savannah  was  successful,  and  brought 
their  colonel  into  notice,  so  that  he  was  chosen  (September, 
1776)  a  brigadier-general  in  the  Continental  army,  in  com 
mand  in  Georgia.  An  unhappy  political  and  personal  dispute 
with  Button  Gwinnett,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde 
pendence,  led  to  a  duel  in  which  the  latter  was  slain.  Laurens 
then  requested  Washington  to  call  General  Mclntosh  to  the 

'/     '&)€'  C/O  fy  £ 


298        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

is  expected  to  arrive  here  tomorrow  on  his  way  to  Fort 
Pitt.  Mrs  Hand  was  well  at  Lancaster  last  Monday.  I 
did  not  then  know  of  this  Opportunity  or  I  would  have 
informed  her  of  it.  I  am  Dear  Sir  Your  very  obedient 

hum1  Servant  ~        > , 

GEO.  MORGAN 

To  Gen1  Edward  Hand 


[John  Campbell  to  Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.     48)22 — 
A.  L.  S.] 

PITTSBURGH,  June  8th   1778. 

GENTLEMEN — As  the  Opportunitys  from  the  Seat 
of  War  and  Congress  into  your  Country  is  so  very 
seldom  &  the  late  Accounts  from  Europe  are  so  inter 
esting  I  can  not  refrain  from  communicating  them  to 
you  tho  I  am  necessitated  to  be  concise  the  bounds  of 
a  letter  not  admiting  of  any  thing  more. 


main  army,  which  he  joined  in  the  autumn  of  1777  and  passed 
the  winter  at  Valley  Forge.  Washington  had  a  high  opinion 
of  Mclntosh's  military  ability,  and  he  knew  of  his  acquaint 
ance  with  the  Indian  character  from  long  association  with  the 
tribesmen  on  the  Georgia  frontier;  he  therefore  chose  him 
in  May,  1778,  to  relieve  Hand  at  Fort  Pitt.  Mclntosh  reached 
that  place  early  in  August,  and  took  the  aggressive.  He  moved 
into  the  Indian  country  with  Continental  troops  and  militia, 
and  in  October  built  Fort  Mclntosh  on  Beaver  Creek.  The 
same  autumn,  Fort  Laurens  was  built  near  the  Delaware 
towns  on  the  Tuscarawa.  The  next  spring  Mclntosh  was 
recalled  from  Fort  Pitt  at  his  own  request.  The  war  in 
Georgia  necessitated  his  return  thither,  where  he  participated 
effectively  in  the  siege  of  Savannah,  wherein  he  was  wounded. 
Later  he  joined  Lincoln  at  Charleston,  and  was  captured 
when  that  city  surrendered.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolution, 
General  Mclntosh  returned  to  Georgia  to  find  his  property 
ruined  by  British  incursions.  He  served  one  term  in  Con 
gress  (1784),  but  his  latter  years  were  passed  in  obscurity. 
He  died  at  Savannah,  Feb.  20,  1806.  —  ED. 


onn  r/  w/f-?.  s/'s  treer-  in  -  /ry,y.  u/,7  t    d 
rhj    rAf  16  fr  0, 


«* 


THE  FRENCH  ALLIANCE  299 

The  26th  of  May  last  we  Celebrated  the  Joyfull 
News  here  with  the  Discharge  of  Thirteen  Pieces  of 
Canon  and  a  Tripple  discharge  of  Musquetry. 

On  or  about  Christmas  Eve  last  Two  Treatys  were 
concluded  between  the  Plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States  of  America  &  The  French  King  whereby  the 
French  King  cedes  all  North  America  &  the  Bermudas 
Islands  to  the  United  States  of  America  and  declares 
their  Independence  will  Trade  with  them  and  protect 
their  Trade.  The  Americans  are  under  no  restrictions 
whatever  except  they  shall  not  return  to  their  Depend 
ence  On  Great  Brittain  these  matters  are  made 
known  to  the  British  Court  by  the  French  Ambassa 
dor  the  Consequence  is  that  Brittain  has  recalled 
her  Ambassador  from  France  and  Ordered  him 
Home.  Therefore  we  daylay  expect  to  hear  of  War 
being  Declared  between  the  two  powers  and  conse 
quently  we  must  assist  France.  Lord  North  has 
moved  for  Conciliatory  Methods  with  America  and 
two  Acts  of  Parliment  are  passed,  one  suspending 
several  Acts  of  Parliment  or  rather  explaining  the 
right  of  Taxation  in  America  &  the  Other  Appointing 
Commissioners  to  Treat  with  the  Americans  both  of 
which  according  to  the  way  they  are  now  understood 
by  us  will  be  rejected  with  the  Comtempt  they  deserve. 

General  How  is  said  to  be  on  the  Wing  from  Phila 
delphia  and  I  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  informing 
you  soon  that  there  is  not  a  British  Soldier  except 
Prisoners  on  any  part  of  the  Continent  of  America. 
Mr  Wells  is  just  waiting  he  can  inform  you  of  some 


300        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

of  the  particulars  of  these  glad  Tidings  to  whom  I 
must  refer  you  &  am  Your  Hum1  Serv1 

JOHN  CAMPBELL. 

Col.  George  Rogers  Clark    In  His  Absence  to  the  Inhabitans 
of  Kentucky. 


MUSTER  ROLLS 

[iSS67.] 

A    List    of    Effects    Lost    of    Sundry    Soldiers    of 
Captain   William    Formans    Company    of    Hampshire 
County  Volunteers  appraised  by  Lieutenant  Anthony 
Miller  &  Ensign  David  Wilson  officers  of  sd :  Com 
pany  Being  duely  Qualifyd  for  that  Purpose 
i     Captain  William  Forman  a  Rifle  Gun      .     .       in"    5" 
Shotpoutch  &  horn  io/   pocket  Compas  5/  .     .     oo"  15" 
a    Blanket i"  17"    6 


2     Edward  Peterson  a  Rifle  Gun u"    5' 

Shotpoutch  &  horn  io/    Blanket  3o/    ....      2"    o' 


Benjamin  Powel  a  Rifle  Gun 12"  io' 

a  Blanket  1/17.6   shotpoutch  &  horn  2!  6    .     .      3" 


4     Hambleton  Forman  a  Rifle  Gun n"    5' 

one  Blanket  30/    shotpoutch  &  horn  io/  .     .     .       2"    o' 


James  Green  a  Rifle  Gun io"    i' 

a   Blanket  37/6 i"  17' 


6    John  Wilsons  a  Rifle  Gun io"    o' 

shotpoutch  &  horn  7/6    Blanket  22/6      .     .     .       i"  io' 


7     Jacob  Pew  a  Rifle  Gun 8"  15" 

Shotpoutch  &  horn  io/    Blanket  18/9     .     .     .       i"  18"   9 


8    Isaac  Harna  a  Rifle  Gun 12"  io" 

shotpoutch  &  horn  TO/   Blanket  yjl  6  ....      2"    7" 


9     Robert  McGrew  a  Blanket  22/6 
io    Elisha  Shivers  a  Blanket  22/6 


MUSTER  ROLLS  301 


II 

Henry  Riser  a  Blanket  37/6   

i"  17" 

6 

12 

Bartholomew  Xiney  a  Blanket  22/6   .... 

i  "   2" 

6 

I  7 

Anthony  Miller  a  Blanket  22/  6       ... 

i  "    2" 

6 

I  A 

Jn°  •  Vincint  a  Blanket  30/ 

i"  io" 

T  S. 

Soloman  Tones  a  D°      30/ 

i"  io" 

13 

16 

William  Ingle  a  D°  •      22/6   

I  "    2" 

6 

17 

Nathan  Forman  a  D°   22/  6 

i"    2" 

6 

18 

Abraham  Powel  a  D°.    37/6   

i"  17" 

6 

19 

Sam1  Lowry  a  Blanket  30/     
Sam1  Johnston  a  Rifle  Gun      
Shotpoutch  &  horn  io/   Blanket  22/6      .    .     . 

i"  io" 
7"  io" 
i"  12" 

6 

We  the  Subscribers  do  hereby  Certify  That  the 
within  specify4,  appraisements  are  Just  &  true  to  the 
Best  of  our  Judgments  &  that  the  several  articles  were 
lost  in  the  late  unhappy  Defeat  near  McMechen's 
Narrows  on  the  27th  of  Septembr:  1777  as  witness 
hands  this  3d.  of  octobrr.  1777 

ANTHONY  MILLER  Lieut 
DAVID  WILSON  Ensgn 

Sworn  Before  me     David  Shepherd      A  List  of  the  Loses 
in  Capf-  Formans  Company 


[Additional  names  of  men  in  Foreman's  company,  mentioned 
in  Draper  MSS.,  as  indicated  in  press-mark  following  each 
name  :] 

Killed:  Capt.  William  Foreman  [28280]  ;  Hamilton  Fore 
man  [28280]  ;  George  Avery  [37J25]  ;  Thomas  Brazier 
[2897;  383;  37J25]  ;  Hugh  Clark  [37)25];  Jacob  Great- 
house  [38166]  ;  Ezekiel  Hedges  [2851]  ;  Moses  Lawson 
[96658];  Jacob  Ogle  [2851;  3Si3i]  ;  John  Polk  [37J25] I 
William  Shens  [28323]  ;  William  Williams  [37J25]. 

Captured:     Jonathan  Pugh  [2897]. 

Escaped:  Harry  Castleman  [37J25]  ;  John  Chambers 
[6ZZi6];  John  Cullins  [2E67]  ;  William  Engle  [2897]: 


302        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Robert  Harkness  [38158,165];  William  Harrod  [;NNi9]  ; 
Solomon  Jones  [96658];  William  Linn  [6ZZg;  96658]; 
Daniel  McLain  [28280]  ;  Joseph  Ogle  [6ZZp]  ;  John  Vincent 
[96658]  ;  Martin  Wetzel  [2Eio]. 


[3NN6.] 

A  list  of  20  officers  and  men  under  Lieut.  William 
Cross,  of  Monongalia  militia,  under  command  of 
Major  James  Chew  at  Fort  Pitt,  Oct  i,  1777: 

John  Mills,  Kent,  Aug.  15,  on  command  at  Wheeling; 
Samuel  61ackford,  sergt. ;  Henry  Yoho,  Aug.  15;  Stephen 
Gasper,  Aug.  15;  Peter  Goosey,  Aug.  15;  William  Hall, 
Aug.  16;  Henry  Franks,  Aug.  16;  Roger  6arton,  Aug.  19; 
John  Yoho,  Sept.  I ;  James  Flynn,  Sept.  i ;  6astian  Keener, 
Sept.  2;  James  Purdie,  Sept.  4;  Aron  Flowers,  Sept.  4. 


[3NN6,;.] 

Capt.  James  O'Hara's  Muster  Roll  of  Independent 
company  of  Regulars,  stationed  at  Fort  Pitt,  Oct.  i, 
1777: 

Thomas  Gibson,  ist  lieut.,  [with]  fifty-four  sergeants,  cor 
porals,  and  privates,  of  whom  Samuel  Fury,  Charles  Camp 
bell,  James  Ensworth,  and  Thomas  Robertson  (enlisted 
Sept.  8)  were  on  command  at  Wheeling.  Thomas  6razee, 
and  John  Polke  were  killed  in  Foreman's  defeat,  Sept.  27th. 
Abraham  Enochs  (enlisted  Sept.  12),  James  Amberson  (en 
listed  Sept.  30),  and  Patrick  Ryan  were  privates. 

Capt.  O'Hara's  pay  roll  for  Dec.  28,  1777,  returned  6ryan 
6urns  prisoner.  Thomas  Hendricks  deserted  Oct.  20;  James 
Ensworth,  Nov.  9;  Michael  Dillow,  after  Oct.  15,  and  John 
McDonald,  Sept.  i. 

[3NN7-] 

Return  of  volunteer  crew  of  "Rattletrap,"  under 
command  of  Capt.  James  Willing,  Dec.  22,  1777: 

Capt.  Thomas  Love ;  Sergeant  John  Marney ;  Levin 
Spriggs;  John  Walker;  Richard  Murray;  Mark  Foley; 
John  Ash;  Daniel  Whittaker ;  Lazarus  Ryan;  Philip  Hupp; 
John  Gouldin ;  Lawrence  Kanan  ;  Samuel  Taylor ;  John 


MUSTER  ROLLS 


303 


Hanwood,  and  James  Taylor  from  Captain  Harrison's  com 
pany  of  the  ijth  Virginia  regiment. 

Greenberry  Shores,  Nathan  Henderson,  Richard  Rody, 
Henry  Haut  and  Tobrar  Haut  of  Captain  Sullivan's  com 
pany. 

Thomas  Beard,  sergeant;  Nathaniel  Down;  James  King; 
Alexander  Chambers;  William  White;  and  John  Rowland 
of  Captain  O'Hara's  company. 

James  Ryan,  Reuben  Hamilton,  and  James  Cordonis  of 
Captain  Heth's  company. 

JAMES  WILLING. 

[3NN8.] 

A  general  return  of  troops  stationed  at  Fort  Pitt 
under  the  command  of  General  Hand,  Dec.  27,  1777 : 

One  colonel;  Captain  Harrison  and  company,  46;  Captain 
Sullivan  and  company,  54;  Captain  Heath  and  company,  67; 
Captain  O'Hara  and  company,  40 — total  208.  Captain  Sullivan 
appears  to  have  been  absent.  Included  in  the  number  were 
two  fifers  and  one  drummer. 


[3NN8.] 

Volunteer  company  of  52  officers  and  privates  in 
Pittsburgh,  under  General  Hand,  for  three  months 
from  May  I,  1778: 

David  Duncan,  captain. 

John  Bradley,  ist  lieutenant. 

Robert  McKinley,  2nd  lieutenant. 

Roger  O'Neal  \ 

Andrew  Robertson    f 

William  Evans          /  Sergeants. 

William  Dawes          ) 


John  Ormsby 
James  McClelland 
William  Redick 
John  Terry 
Hugh  Reed 
Hugh  Quigley 
William  Christy 


Privates. 


Ignace  Labat 
Matthew  Hayes 
Rhoderick  Frazer 
William  Flinn  Jr. 
Wyllys  Pierson 
Michael  Strain 
Joseph  Nicholas 


304        FRONTIER  DEFENSE  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Hugh  Smith  William  Boniface 

Charles  Richards  Jacob  Haymaker 

James  Robertson  Jacob  Grubb 

William  Deal  James  Fleming 

John  Small  Andrew  Neugle 

John  Handlen  John  Dousman 

John  Redick  John  Truine 

James  Brevard  Patrick  McDonald 

John  Girty  Philip  Engle 

John  Hoecraft  Conrad  Winbiddle 

Samuel  Semple  William  McMaicancy 

James  Fernsley  Matthew  Gilmore 

Gasper  Reel  James  Ryan 

William  Woods  James  McGouldrick 

Thomas  Bell  Hugh  O'Hara 

Jacob  Wise 
Endorsed  :     Volunteer  company  of  the  town  of  Pittsburgh. 

[3NN9,  10.] 

Abstract  of  Westmoreland  Militia  ordered  out  on 
an  expedition  to  the  Indian  Country  by  Brigadier 
General  Edward  Hand,  commanded  by  Col.  Alexander 
Barr,  from  10  Feb-io  March,  1778,  generally  credited 
for,  some  to  March  8 : 

Alexander  Barr,  colonel  ist  Battalion i 

John  Pumroy,  lieutenant  colonel I 

Adam  Guthrey,  quarter  master I 

Capt.  Charles  Foreman  &  company ist  Bat"  28 

Capt.  Robert  Knox  &  company "  17 

Capt.  John  Hinkson  &  company "  18 

Capt.  Richard  Williams  &  company "  8 

Lieut.  Edward  McDowell  &  company "  15 

Capt.  Andrew  Lovars  &  company 18 

Capt.  William  Love  &  company '"  24 

128 

Capt.  John  McClelland  &  company 2nd  Bat"  19 

Capt.  David  Marchant  &  company "       "  34 

Capt.  Hugh  Martin  &  company "       "  18 

Capt.  Christopher  Truby  &  company "       "  20 

Providence  Mounts,  lieutenant  colonel 3d  Batn  T 

John    Brannon,   adjutant "       "  T 

Capt.  James  Leetch  &  company "       "  13 

Capt.  David  Vance  &  company "       "  25 


MUSTER  ROLLS  305 


Capt.  John  Christy  &  company "  32 

Capt.  William  Sparks  &  company 4th  Batn  15 

Capt.  John  Kyle  &  company "       "  19 

Capt.  James  Clark  &  company 2nd  Batn  21 

Capt.  Hugh  Mitchell  &  company 3d  Bat"  13 

Total  officers  and  men 362 

Total  pay  and  subsistence ^1307.    3.    6 


[From    Samuel    T.    Wiley,    History   of   Monongalia    County, 
W.  Va.  (Kingswood,  W.  V.,  1883),  p.  70.] 

Pay  Abstract  of  Capt.  John  Whitsell's  [Wetzel's] 
company  of  Rangers,  Monongahala  County  under 
command  of  Col.  Daniel  McFarland.  Ranging  in 
Monongahala  and  Ohio  Counties  from  the  22nd  day 
of  April  to  the  25th  July  1778  both  days  included: 

John  Whitzell,  captain 

William  Crawford,  lieutenant 

John  Madison,  ensign 

Peter  Miller,  sergeant 

Christian  Copley,  sergeant 
John  Six  Samuel  Brown 

Lewis  Bonnell    [Bonnet]  Jacob  Teusbaugh 

Joseph  Morris  Benjamin  Wright 

William  Hall  Philip  Nicholas 

John  Nicholas  Henry  Yoho 

John  Duncan  Thomas  Hargis 

John  Province  Jr.  Henry  Franks 

Nicholas  Crousber  Jacob  Teusbaugh 

John  Six  Abram  Eastwood 

Conrad  Hur  Martin  Whitzell 

Enoch  Enochs  Jacob  Riffle 

Valentine  Lawrence  John  Andreuer 

John  Smith  William  Gardiner 

David  Casto  Joseph  Yeager 

Philip  Catt  George  Catt 

Joseph  Coone  Matthias  Riffle 

Jacob  Spangler  Peter  Goosey 

Philip  Barker 


20 


INDEX 


Abbott,  Gov.  Edward,  281,  285; 
sketch,  10,  11. 

Albany   (N.  Y.),  25,  137. 

Albemarle  County   (Va.),  196. 

Albert,  George  S.,  Frontier  Forts 
of  Pennsylvania,  151,  1G6. 

Alexandria  (Va.),  226. 

All  Face,   Seneca  chief,  180,  188,  189. 

Almon,  J.,  Remembrancer,     191. 

Amberson,  James,  302. 

American  Historical  Review,   271. 

American  Magazine  of  History*  157. 

Amherstburg   (Ont.),   250,275. 

Amwell   township,   resident,   112. 

Anderson,   John,    messenger,   128. 

Anderson,  Capt.  John,  deposition, 
162,  163. 

Andreuer,   John,  305. 

Antietam  (Md.),  pioneer,  40. 

Arbuckle,  Capt.  Matthew,  com 
mandant,  5,  32,  33,  157-159,  175, 
205;  company,  27;  nephew,  162; 
deposition,  224;  letters  from,  25-27, 
80,  125-128,  149,  150,  176,  232;  for 
wards  news,  186,  266,  267;  on  fur 
lough,  195,  246;  tries  to  protect 
hostages,  163,  177,  189. 

Argyle  family,  70. 

Arkansas  post,  supplies  at,  199,  202, 
278. 

Armstrong,  Gen.  John,  expedition, 
43,  146,  234. 

Arnold,  Gen.   Benedict,  139,  211. 

Ash,  John,  302. 


Ashcraft,   Richard,   scout,  23. 

"Augusta,"   British   ship,  152. 

Augusta  County  (Va.),  43,  171,  225, 
294;  seat,  176;  pioneers,  27,  79, 
123,  127,  196,  248;  militia,  17,  81, 
105,  126,  154,  158,  162,  171,  176;  de 
fense  of,  238;  county  formed  from, 
135,  136;  troops  march,  149,  150, 
168,  169. 

Avery,    George,   301. 

Aylett,   Col.   William,  17,  43. 


Bailey,  John,  Kentucky  express, 
194. 

Baker,  George,  captured,  33,  34,  254. 

Baker,  Joshua,  pioneer,  45. 

Baker  family,  34,  45. 

Baldwin,  Thomas,  at  Fort  Pitt,  135. 

Bane,  — ,  Virginia  loyalist,  169. 

Baptists,  missions,  119;  in  Ken 
tucky,  184,  194. 

Barker,   Philip,  305. 

Barnet,  — ,  224. 

Barr,   — ,  killed,  148. 

Barr,   Col.  Alexander,  148,  304. 

Barre,   Col.   Isaac,   speech,  211. 

Barton,   Roger,  302. 

Bath  County   (Va.),  150. 

Baton    Rouge    (La.),   captured,   289. 

Battles:  Blue  Licks,  12.  Brandy- 
wine,  114,  213,  214,  219.  Captina 
Creek,  106.  Cherry  Valley,  11. 
Cowpens,  246.  Elk  River,  219. 


INDEX 


307 


Fallen  Timbers,  10,  12.  German- 
town.  137,  214,  219,  264.  Great 
Bridge,  213.  Guilford,  27.  Lake 
Erie,  250.  Long  Island,  7.  Point 
Pleasant,  163,  175.  Sandusky,  12. 
Stony  Point,  213.  Thames,  250. 
Tippecanoe,  10.  Wyoming,  11. 
Bausman,  Joseph  H.,  History  of 
Bea-ver  County,  Pa.,  34,  254. 


Bays:  Burlington,  250.  Chesa 
peake,  48.  Sandusky,  165. 

Beard,  Thomas,  303. 

Beaubien,  Charles,  283. 

Beaver  County  (Pa.),  44. 

Becquets,  Charles,  286,  287. 

Becquets,  Jean  Baptiste,  286,  287, 
291. 

Bedford  County  (Pa.),  defense  of, 
239;  captives  from,  254;  officers, 
39,  133;  militia,  25,  134,  147,  153, 
155;  pioneers,  54;  raided,  151, 188. 

Beech  Bottom,  40,  46,  51,  62,  64,  67, 
83,  130,  134,  135.  See  also  Forts. 

Bell,  Judith  Gary,  210. 

Bell,  Thomas,  304. 

Bellefontaine  (O.),  118. 

Bellefonte   (Pa.),  146. 

Belmont  County  (O.),  106. 

Bentley,  Thomas,  288. 

Berkeley  County  (W.  Va.),  pio 
neers,  15,  64,  65,  67;  militia,  154, 
177,  238;  sketch,  135. 

Berry,  Lieut.  — ,  223,  227. 

Berting,    Peter,    pensioner,    150. 

Beverly  mill,  site,  176. 

Big  Knife,  Indian  term  for  Ameri 
cans,  115,  116. 

Billings,  Dr.  John  S.,  aid  acknowl 
edged,  5. 

Billingsport  (N.  J.),  attacked,  152, 
153. 

Bird,  Capt.   Henry,  235. 

Blackfish,  Shawnee  chief,  26,  252. 

Blackford,  Samuel,  302. 

Blackford,    Capt.    Zephaniah,   23,   84. 


Blacksnake,  Seneca  chief,  20,  173, 
180. 

Blacksville  (Va.),  135. 

Blue  Licks  (Ky.),  12,  252,  254. 

Boggs,  Capt.  John,  65,  67,  68. 

Boggs,  Lydia.     See  Mrs.  Cruger. 

Boggs  family,  65. 

Bolton,  Col.  Mason,  173,  174,  285. 

Boniface,  William,  304. 

Bonnet,   Lewis,  305. 

Boone,  Daniel,  captured,  26,  252, 
254,  283. 

Boone,  Jemima,  captured,  271. 

Boonesborough  (Ky.),  31,  102,  103, 
182,  252,  271,  283. 

Booth,  James,   letter  from,  37. 

Borden,  Benjamin,  land  grant,  105, 
170. 

Boreman,  — ,  messenger,  297. 

Bosseron,  Francois,  286. 

Botetourt  County  (Va.),  militia,  4, 
17,  74,  75,  154,  158,  162,  176,  189, 
224,  238,  240,  266,  267,  294;  troops 
from,  149-151,248;  officials,  43,123, 
124,  168,  169,  265;  extent,  171. 

Bouquet,  Col.  Henry,  expedition, 
70,  133,  219. 

Bowman,  Col.  John,  relieves  Ken 
tucky,  31,  76;  campaign,  26,  182; 
letter,  181-183;  sketch,  183. 

Bowman,   Capt.   Joseph,   272. 

Bowyer,    Capt.   John,  104,  105,  122-124. 

Bowyer,  Capt.  Michael,  105. 

Boyd,  John,  killed,  57,  60,  63. 

Braddock,  Gen.  Edward,  15,  209, 
213,  221. 

Bradley,  John,  303. 

Brady,   Samuel,  217. 

Brady,  William,  guide,  217. 

Brannon,  John,  304. 

Brant,  Joseph,  20,  250. 

Brazier,  Thomas,  301,  302. 

Brenton,  James,  84,  216,  217. 

Brevard,  James,  304. 

Bridges,  John,  254. 

British,  incite  Indian  raids,  7-13,  19, 


308 


INDEX 


20,   42,    88,   102,   137,   153,    173,   232; 
defeated,  136-138;     supplies,  201-203. 

Brock,  Gen.  Isaac,  captures  De 
troit,  12. 

Brocus,  Ann,  226. 

Brodhead,  Col.  Daniel,  expedition, 
36,  61,  147,  180. 

Brooke  County   (Va.),  22. 

Brooks.     See  Brocus. 

Brown,   Samuel,  305. 

Brown,  Col.  Thomas,  51,  52,  93,133. 

Bryant's  Station  (Ky.),  12. 

Buchanan,   Col.   William,  256. 

Buckingehelas,  Delaware  chief,  117, 
118. 

Bucks  County   (Pa.),  198. 

Buffalo  Historical  Society,  Publica 
tions,  173,  180. 

Bukey,  Hezekiah,  spy,  23. 

Bukey,   Mrs.  Jemima,  23. 

Burgoyne,  Col.  John,  defeat,  76,  145, 
146,  174,  181,  188,  243,  244,  289. 

Burk,  Capt.  Thomas,  169,  203,  204. 

Burke,   Edmund,   speech,  211. 

Burns,  Bryan,  302. 

Butler,   Henry,  286. 

Butler,  Col.  John,  20,  88,  173,  174, 
282,  285;  rangers,  11,  275;  sketch, 
20. 

Butterfield,    C.    W.,  History  of  the 
Girtys,    201;    Washington-Crawford 
Letters,  193;    IrTine    Correspond 
ence,  165. 

Butterworth,   James,   254. 

Cahokia   (111.),  264. 

Caillot.     See  Lachanse. 

Caldwell,  Billy,   Indian  chief.  12. 

Caldwell,  James,  12. 

Caldwell,  John,  61,  66;    sketch,  61. 

Caldwell,   Thomas,  12. 

Caldwell,  Walter,  killed,  79.  80. 

Caldwell,   Capt.   William,  11,  235. 

Caldwell,   William  Jr.,  12. 

Calloway,    Elizabeth,   captured,   271. 

Galloway,  Frances,  captured,  271. 

Cam,   Hosea,  messenger,   22. 

Camp  Union,  81,  150. 


Campbell,  — ,  killed,  71. 

Campbell,   Col.  Arthur,  letter,  38. 

Campbell,  Charles,  302. 

Campbell,  Col.  Charles,  captured, 
70,  152. 

Campbell,  Col.  John,  Pittsburgh 
resident,  32,  148,  184,  185,  233, 
298-300. 

Campbell,   Richard,  killed,  71. 

Canadian  Archires,   218,  274,  275,  280. 

Canon,  Col.  John,  230,  233. 

Canonsburg   (Pa.),  295. 

Carleton,  Sir  Guy,  governor  of  Can 
ada,  9,  14,  71,  161,  274,  280. 

Carlisle  (Pa.),   settler,  249. 

Carnahan,  Adam,  41,  50. 

Carnahan,  James,   services,  41. 

Carnahan,  John,  killed,  42,  50. 

Carney  family,  227. 

Caroline  County    (Va.),  213,  264. 

Carr,  Thomas,   scout,  23. 

Castleman,   Harry,  301. 

Casto,   David,  305. 

Catawba  Indians,  trail,  221. 

Catfish,  Delaware  chief,  6. 

Catfish   Camp,  6,  15,  67    76,  83,  132. 

Catherine.     See   Grenadier   Squaw. 

Catt,  George,  305. 

Catt,  Philip,  305. 

Celoron,  — ,  281. 

Celoron,  Pierre  Joseph,  147,  281. 

Centre  County  (Pa.),  146. 

Chambers,  Alexander,  303. 

Chambers,  James,  41,   42. 

Chambers,  John,  301. 

Charleston  (S.  C.),  during  Revolu 
tion,  190,  210,  213,  257,  297,  298. 

Charleston  (Md.),  "3. 

Chartier,  Martin,  200. 

Chartier,   Peter,  200. 

Chartier  township   (Pa.),   277. 

Chartier's  town,  200. 

Chene,   Isadore,  10. 

Cherokee  Indians,  murdered,  86; 
hostile,  90,  203,  207,  275;  envoy  to, 
209,  210;  treaty  with,  198. 

Chester   (Pa.),    skirmish   near,   146. 


INDEX 


309 


Chew,     Maj.     James,    relieves     For 

Henry,     23,     49,     120-122,     129-132 

scouting,  24;  in  skirmish,  138,  140 

at  Fort  Pitt,  141,  302;  council,  148 

letters,  134,  135,  143-145;  sketch,  18 

Chicago,     Indian     village     at,     118 

Historical  Society    Collections,  286 

Chickasaw  Indians,  199. 

Chillicothe,  Shawnee  clan,  20. 

Chillicothe    (O.),    Indian    town,    25 

26,  234,  283. 

Chippewa   Indians,   at  council,  7-13 
at    Fort    Pitt,    16;     war    party,    50 
102,  230;    interpreter,  231. 
Chisholm,  Mrs.  John,  184. 
Christy,  Capt.  John,  305. 
Christy,  William,  303. 
Cisney,  Capt.  — ,  142. 
Clark,     Col.    George    Rogers,    early 
life,   39,  107,   181,   182;     sends    spy, 
184;     prepares  for  expedition,  196, 
197,  202,  203,  226,  227,  263,  264,  278; 
letters,  248,  249,  271,  272;    message 
for,    46;     in   Illinois,    182,  235,   286, 
287,    290;     captures    Vincennes,    7, 
10,   11,    281;     in   1780,   26;     officers, 
174,  192,  194,  218,  234,  250,  251,  292; 
news    of    French    alliance,    298-300; 
sketch,  196. 
Clark,  Hugh,  301. 
Clark,  Capt.  James,  305. 
Clark,  John  Jr.,  264. 
Clark,  Jonathan,  264. 
Clark,   Richard,  264,  265. 
Clinton,   Sir  Henry,    in   New   York 

192. 

Cloyd,   Capt.  — ,  messenger,  171. 
Clymer,  George,   Congressional  com 
missioner,  198,  200,  228,  229,  240. 
Coitchelah,   Shawnee  chief,    242. 
Coleman,    William,   merchant,   198. 
Coles,  Jacob,  59,  60. 
Colisqua,  Shawnee  chief,  114,  137. 
Collinstown    (Va.),   rendezvous,    123. 
Connell,  James,  220. 
Connell,  Zachariah,  220. 
Connellsville     (Pa.),     founder,     216, 
220,  221. 


Connolly,  Col.  John,  72. 
Conowango     (Pa.),     Indian     village, 
180. 

Continental  army,  2,  104,  105,  132, 
133.  See  also  the  respective  regi 
ments. 

Continental  Congress,  seat,  133,  286, 
287;  appoints  Hand,  1;  recalls 
Hand,  191;  petitions  for,  19,  109, 
110,  189;  resolutions,  17,  190,  191; 
commissioners  from,  6,  184-187, 
198;  relations  with  Indians,  92-97, 

113,  117,  136,  137,  236,  237;    defends 
West,   293,   294;     Spanish   message 
for,  289;    Journals,  187,  198,  228. 

Conway,   Gen.   Thomas,  211. 

Conwell,  Yates,  23,  107. 

Cook,  Col.  Edward,  110,  221. 

Coon,  Joseph,  37,  305. 

Coon,   Philip,   37. 

Copley,   Christian,  305. 

Corbly,  John,  letter,  23. 

Cordonnis,  James,  303. 

Cornstalk,     Shawnee     chief,     26,    78, 

114,  126,  254;    detained  as  hostage, 
149,     150,    167;      draws     map,    160; 
murdered,    157-163,  175-177,  214,233- 
237,  256,  259;     murderers,  207,  208, 
224,  225,  240;     effect  of  death,  m, 
189,  252. 

:oshocton  (Cuchachunk),  Indian 
town,  18,  19,  27,  29,  35,  93,  96,  100, 
101,  112,  118,  136,  164,  166;  trail  to, 
179;  council  at,  270;  Moravians, 
284;  Loyalists,  260,  285;  expedi 
tion  against,  36,  94,  96;  sketch, 
18,  164. 

Craig,  Maj.  Isaac,  165. 
>aig,  Rev.  John,  171. 
'raig,  Neville  B.,  History  of  Pitts 
burgh,  86. 

Craven,   Harrison   W.,   aid   acknowl 
edged,  277. 

-rawford,  Anne,  220. 
:rawford,  John,  143,  221. 
:rawford,  Lieut.  \Villiam,  305. 


310 


INDEX 


Crawford,  Col.  William,  54,  190,  191, 
216;  letters  for,  193,  201,  202,  252, 
253;  home,  221;  defeat,  4,  12,  45, 
130,  235,  249,  295;  sketch,  190. 

Crawford  family,   218. 

Creeks:  Beaver  (Pa.),  33-36,  178, 
215,  217,  228,  233,  256,  270,  298.  Big 
Sewickley  (Pa.),  69.  Big  White- 
ley  (Pa.),  69.  Blacklick  (Pa.),  70, 
71,  153.  Booth  (W.  Va.),  37. 
Brandywine  (Pa.),  114.  Buffalo 
(W.  Va.),  23,  40,  41,  47,  61,  65,  67, 
130.  Captina  (W.  Va.),  106,  296. 
Carr's  (Va.),  105,  159.  Catter- 
augus  (N.  Y.),  180.  Chartier  (Pa.), 
67,  200,  277.  Conemaugh  (Pa.),  41, 
71,  153.  Cross  (O.),  4.  Decker's 
(Pa.),  44.  Dunkard  (W.  Va.),  21, 
24;  raids  on,  245,  248-251,  254,269, 
279.  Elk  (W.  Va.),  37.  Fish  (W. 
Va.),  21,  23,  254,  295,  296.  French 
(Pa.),  147,  252,  285.  Grave  (W. 
Va.),  21-23,  46,  106,  107,  111,  112— 
see  also  Fort  Grave  Creek.  In 
dian  (Va.),  80.  Jacob's  (Pa.),  190. 
Kiskiminitas  (Pa.),  6,  40,  41,  82, 
141,153,174;  sketch,  40.  Le  Boeuf 
(Pa.),  147,  285,  287.  Little  Sewick 
ley  (Pa.),  47.  Little  Wheeling 
(W.  Va.),  57.  Loyalhanna  (Pa.), 
153,  165.  Mahoning  (O.),  178,219. 
Middle  Island  (W.  Va.),  295,  296. 
Mounts  (Pa.),  216.  Muddy  (Va.), 
81,  248,  279.  Neshannock  (Pa.), 
217.  Paint  (O.),  164.  Peter's 
(Pa.),  77.  Pigeon  (Pa.),  45.  Rac 
coon  (Pa.),  34,  44.  Sandy  (W. 
Va.),  38.  Sewickley  (Pa.),  41. 
Shenango  (Pa.),  217.  Short  (W. 
Va.),  23,  41,  135.  Shurtees— see 
Chartier 's.  Sunfish  (W.  Va.),  21-23. 
Ten  Mile  (Pa.),  112,  227,  2(i4. 
Tinker's  (O.),  165.  Wheeling  (W. 
Va.),  3,  5,  57,  59-61,  65,  66,  106, 
296— see  also  Fort  Henry.  Yellow 
(Pa.),  133.  Yellow  (W.  Va.),  4. 


Crockett,    Capt.    Walter,  266. 
Croghan,    George,    Indian    trader,   4, 

30,200;    residence,  50,  250;    sketch, 

30. 

Crooks,  Capt.  — ,  55. 
Cross,   Lieut.   William,   23,  302. 
Crousber,  Nicholas,  305. 
Grouse,  Peter,  killed,  274. 
Cruger,  Gen.   Daniel,  65. 
Cruger,   Mrs.    Lydia,  reminiscences, 

65-68;     portrait,    66. 
Cruzat,   Col.    Francisco,   290. 
Culbertson's   Bottom   (Va.),   265. 
Cullins,  John,  107,  109,  110,  301. 
Culpeper  County   (Va.),   militia,  32. 
Cumberland    County    (Pa.),    25,    133, 

146,  213. 
Cuyahoga  (O.),  see  Cuyahoga  River. 

Dandridge,Danske,  f/ittoric  Shep- 
herdsto-wn,  135. 

Dandridge  family,  17. 

Darlington,  Mary  C,  Fort  Pitt  nnd 
Letters  from  the  Frontier,  3,  24,  36, 
133,  148. 

Darlington,  William  M.,  Gist's 
Journals  173. 

Dartmouth,   Lord,   papers,   161. 

Datahyjas,  Huron   Indian,  288. 

Dauphin   County   (Pa.),   178. 

Davis,   Eleazar,  279. 

Dawes,  William,  303. 

Deal,  William,  304. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  sign 
ers,  132,  198,  297. 

Delaware   George,   chief,  117,   118. 

Delaware  Indians,  clans,  147;  vil 
lages,  164,  165,  232,  298;  migra 
tions,  217,  218;  in  Illinois,  287; 
at  Fort  Pitt,  35,  48,  50,  86;  De 
troit,  7,  233;  neutral,  168,  173,  285; 
friendly,  28,  29,  48,  86-92,  102,  179, 
255;  hostile,  22,  37,  67,  207,  282; 
hostage,  96;  messages  for,  86-92, 
100,  112-118,  136-138,  147,  228,  229, 
241-243,  269,  270,  291;  messages 


INDEX 


311 


from,  164-167,244,254;  fear  attack, 
94-96,  101;  captives  among,  231, 
284;  spy,  230;  Half  King,  167; 
messengers,  178;  message  to 
Shawnee,  126;  fort  to  be  built 
for,  113,  117;  Loyalists  among, 
260. 

Derry  settlement,  on  Conemaugh, 
148,  153,  178. 

Deserters,  from  Fort  Pitt,  247,  278, 
279,  286. 

Detroit,  founded,  118;  British  head 
quarters,  128,  137,  193,  234,  241-243, 
249,  252,  254,  274,  280,  288;  condi 
tions  described,  103,  119;  gov 
ernor,  10,  102,  193;  Indian  council 
at,  7-13,  19,  25;  captives,  34,  38, 
41,  70,  71;  Loyalists,  12,  186; 
raids  from,  152,  164;  expedition 
against,  214,  218;  Delawares  at, 
115,  166;  spy,  231;  message  from, 
39;  evacuated,  275;  taken  by 
Americans,  12. 

Dickinson,  Col.  John,  at  Fort  Ran 
dolph,  149-151,  162,  177. 

Dickson,  — ,  captured,  70. 

Dillow,  Michael,  302. 

Dinwiddie,   Gov.   Robert,  221. 

Doddridge,  Dr.  Joseph,  describes 
siege  of  Fort  Henry,  54-58;  Notes 
on  the  Settlements,  54,  157. 

Dodge,  John,  288. 

Donop,  Count  Carl  von,  Hessian 
officer,  152. 

Dougherty,  Dudley,  daughter  cap 
tured,  180. 

Dougherty  family,  captives,  180. 

Douglass,  Alexander,  76,  77. 

Dousman,  John,  304. 

Down,  Nathaniel,  303. 

Draper,  Lyman  C.,  secures  manu 
scripts,  5,  146;  interviews,  12,  107, 
109,  130,  164,  173,  180;  correspond 
ence,  157;  cited,  103,  151. 

Drennon,  Capt.  Jacob,  Kentucky 
pioneer,  62,  63. 

Drennon  family,  62. 


Drennon's   Lick,  63. 

Duke,  Francis,  killed,  64,  67;  ac 
count  book,  56;  estate,  66. 

Duke,   Francis  Jr.,   descendants,  64. 

Duke,  John,  64. 

Dumfries  (Va.),  226. 

Duncan,  David,  303. 

Duncan,  John,  305. 

Dunmore,  Earl  of,  governor  of  Vir 
ginia,  2,  63;  expedition,  54,  61, 
181,  196,  218,  296;  officers,  172,190; 
sends  list  of  Loyalists,  284;  in 
the  Revolution,  11,  136,  213. 

Dunmore  County  (Va.),  militia,  17, 
128,  135,  154,  177;  sketch,  136. 


Eastwood,  Abram,  305. 

Edwards,  Col.  John,  164. 

Eighth  Pennsylvania  regiment,  3, 
41,  69. 

Eighth  Virginia  regiment,  27,  190, 
212. 

Eighteenth  British  infantry,  2. 

Elinipsico,  killed,  159,  163,  188,  189, 
259. 

Elliott,  James,  messenger  to  Dela 
wares,  87,  100,  102,  115,  117. 

Elliott,  Matthew,  Loyalist,  12,  249- 
256,  284. 

Elliott,  Col.  William,  277. 

Emmet,  Thomas  A.,  271. 

Engle,  Philip,  304. 

Engle,  William,  301. 

Enoch,   Capt.  Henry,  52. 

Enochs,  Abraham,  106,  302. 

Enochs,  Enoch,  305. 

Ensworth,  James,  302. 

Episcopalians,  in  Virginia,  54. 

Equeshaway,  Ottawa  chief,  10. 

Essex  (Ont.),  249. 

Evans,  John,   map,  164. 

Evans,  Col.  John,  letter,  273,  274; 
sketch,  93. 

Evans,   William,  303. 

Ewing,  Catherine,  relatives,  5. 

Ewing,    Maj.    Jasper    (Jesse),    7,    20, 


312 


INDEX 


120,  196,  248;  accompanies  Hand, 
156,  188;  letter.  253;  on  furlough, 
192,  197,  200. 


Fairfax  County  (Va.),  135. 

"Fairfield,"  Virginia  estate,  17. 

Falls:    Great  Kanawha,  151. 

Fanny,  Indian  woman,  195. 

Farmer,  Jacob,  21. 

Fauquier  County   (Va.),  272. 

Fayette  County    (Pa.),  190,  216. 

Fernsley,  James,  304. 

Fifth   Virginia   regiment,   213. 

First  Virginia  regiment,  213. 

Fleming,  James,  304. 

Fleming,  Col.  William,  county  lieu 
tenant,  38,  43,  123,  154,  205-209; 
hears  of  Cornstalk's  murder,  168; 
letters,  126,  223-225;  to  Shawnee, 
258-261;  letters  for,  42,  43,  74-76, 
78-82,  104,  105,  122-125,  171,  172, 
209-214,240,241,  265-268;  sketch,  38. 

Fleming,    Mrs.   William,   123. 

Fleming  County  (Ky.),  62. 

Flinn,  John,   messenger,  125,  127. 

Flinn,  William  Jr.,  303. 

Florida,  in  British  regime,  285,  288. 

Flowers,  Aaron,   302. 

Floyd,  John,  218,  266,  269. 

Flying  Crow,  Seneca  chief,  180,  188, 
189. 

Flynn,  James,  302. 

Foley,  Mark,  302. 

Forbes,  Gen.  John,  6,  165. 

Foreman,  Capt.   Charles,  304. 

Foreman,  Hamilton,  killed,  106,  134, 
300. 

Foreman,   Nathan,  301. 

Foreman,  Capt.  William,  defeated, 
95,  106-112,  118,  120,  134,  136; 
causes,  129,  130;  losses,  121,  122, 
300,  302;  men  buried,  120,  122; 
monument,  108;  sketch,  106. 

Forster,  Elizabeth,  178. 

Fort  Wayne  (Ind.),  site,  288. 


Forts:  on  the  Ohio,  3-5.  Baker's, 
106.  Barr,  148.  Beech  Bottom,  36, 
40,  51,  56,  62,  64,  67,  83,  110,  111, 
130,  134,  135.  Beeler's,  65.  Bee- 
son's,  67.  Blackmore,  38.  Chero 
kee — see  Massac.  Chiswell,  265. 
Coon,  37,  93.  Donnally,  248.  Du- 
quesne,  2,  166,  217,  286.  Dunmore 
—see  Pitt.  Garard,  23.  Grave 
Creek,  4,  22,  61;  burned,  107,  110, 
111;  sketch,  106.  Hand,  41,  69,82, 
97-99.  Henry  (in  Greenbrier),  79. 
Henry,  built,  54;  strengthened,  39, 

47,  51;     garrison,    4,    23,    135,    140, 
147,   148,  238;    reports  from,  15,  21, 
46,    47,    50,    51;     siege    of,    32,    36, 
54-68,  72,  73;    losses  at,  84,  85,   95, 
96;      after    siege,     83-85,    106,    109, 
120-122,   129-132,   227;     Hand    visits, 
146,    154;      later    siege,    59;      com 
mandant,   295 — see    also   Wheeling. 
Jefferson,     194,     264.       Kern's,     44. 
Kittanning,  2,  3,  15,  40,  181;     attack 
ed,    46,   50;     threatened,    69;     evac 
uated,   41,   82,  97,    98,  134.     Koon— 
see    Coon.     Laurens  298;   Ligonier, 
165,   166.     Mclntosh,   165,  174,   198. 
Martin,    273.     Massac    (Cherokee), 
202,  203.     Mercer,  152.     Miami,  283. 
Mingo     Bottom,     4.       Minor,     53. 
Morris,    175.       Muddy     Creek,    81. 
Necessity,    216,    221.      Nelson,    194. 
Oriskany,    173.      Palmer,    152,    166. 
Pitt,   commandant,   1-3,   298;     Brit 
ish   garrison,    2;     artillery   for,   17; 
ammunition,     267;      supplies,     74; 
endangered,  31,  35;     skirmish   near, 
255;     smallpox    at,    210;     messages 
for,  36,  182;    route  to,  176;    condi 
tions    at,    14,    140,    172-174,    178-181, 
188-192,   231;     as   a   rendezvous,   49. 
165,    202,    214,    245;      Indians    visit, 

48,  62,  164,  167;    Indians  killed,  85, 
86,     233;      Loyalists     at,     53,     156, 
184-187;     Morgan,   33,  94;     commis 
sioners,     142,     236,     294;      officer's 
council,    145-148;      cattle    near,    99; 


INDEX 


313 


celebrate  French  alliance,  299; 
sketch,  2— see  also  Pittsburgh. 
Preservation,  166.  Prickett's,  24, 
37.  Rail's,  61.  Randolph,  garrison 
of,  5,  39,  127,  140,  177;  endangered, 
26;  reinforced,  105,  122-128,  148, 
150,  151,  205,  224,  238,  240;  route 
to,  176;  rendezvous,  42,  43;  Shaw- 
nee  hostages  at,  149,  150;  Indian 
massacre,  157-163,  175-177,  256,  259; 
conditions  at,  25-27,  194-196,  246-248; 
officer  killed,  203;  Hand  visits, 
154,  162,  171-177,  181,  184,  186,  188- 
191;  Shawnee  invited  to,  260,  261; 
sketch,  2,  5— see  also  Point  Pleas 
ant.  Recovery,  10.  Reardon's 
Bottom,  4.  Sackville,  10,  194— see 
also  Vincennes.  St.  Etienne — see 
Arkansas  Post.  St.  Louis  (111.), 
200.  Schuyler,  20.  Shepherd,  57, 
61,  66,  109.  Stanwix,  11,  20,  116. 
Statler,  21,  53.  Swan  and  Van 
Meter,  264.  Van  Bibber,  78,  80. 
Van  Meter,  64.  Venango,  217. 
Wallace,  148,  151-153,  166.  Wayne, 
118,  180.  Yellow  Creek,  4. 

Fox  Indians,  on  Allegheny,  147. 

Franklin  County  (Pa.),  87. 

Franks,  Henry,  302,  305. 

Frazer,  Rhoderick,  303. 

Frederick  County  (Va.),  militia,  17, 
128,  154,  177,  238;  recruits  from, 
272;  counties  formed  from,  136; 
sketch,  135. 

Fredericksburg   (Va.),  214. 

French,  forts  in  West,  118;  alliance, 
297-299. 

Frontiersmen,  disposition  towards 
Indians,  119,  129. 

Fury,  Samuel,  302. 

Gaddis,  Col.  Thomas,  letter,  51,  52. 
Galbraith,     Hugh,     tried    for     Corn 
stalk's  murder,  178. 
Galloway,  Joseph,  letter,  161. 
Galvez,  Bernardo  de,  289,  291,  293. 
Galvez,  Jose  de,  289. 


Gapen  family,  homestead,  217. 

Gardiner,  William,  305. 

Gasper,  Stephen,  302. 

Gates,  Gen.  Horatio,  letter  for,  202, 
203,  243,  250-252,  278,  279. 

George,  Lieut.  Robert,  192. 

George,  Robin,  messenger  to  Dela- 
wares,  117. 

Georgetown  (Ky.),  181. 

Georgetown  (Md.),  226. 

Georgia,  during  Revolution,  297, 
298. 

Germain,   Lord  George,  orders,  9. 

Giasodo.     See  Guyashusta. 

Gibson,  — ,  captured,  70. 

Gibson,  John,  captured,  70. 

Gibson,  John,  trader,  276. 

Gibson,  Mrs.  John,  276. 

Gibson,  Col.  John,  at  Fort  Pitt,  35, 
145;  gives  information,  73,  189, 
190;  at  council,  148;  letters,  33-36, 
86,  140-142,  172-174,178-181;  sketch, 
35. 

Gibson,  Lieut.  Thomas,  302. 

Gilmer,  Capt.  — ,  in  Augusta  mili 
tia,  122. 

Gilmore,   Lieut.   James,  246,  247. 

Gilmore,  John,  killed,  159. 

Gilmore,  Matthew,  304. 

Gilmore,  Ensign  Robert,  killed  near 
Fort  Randolph,  158-160,  163,  176, 
259. 

Gilmore,  Thomas,  killed,  159. 

Gilmore,  William,  family  attacked, 
159. 

Gilmore  family,   attacked,  159. 

Girty,  George,  234. 

Girty,  James,  messenger  to  Shaw- 
nee,  234,  235,  237,  243,  244;  deserts 
to  British,  255,  284;  sketch,  234. 

Girty,  John,  304. 

Girty,  Simon,  captured  when  a  boy, 
234;  wife,  106;  not  at  siege  of 
Fort  Henry,  67;  suspected  Loyal 
ist,  185;  arrested,  73,  172,  185; 
messenger  to  Seneca,  172-174,  179- 
181;  on  Hand's  campaign,  217, 


314 


INDEX 


219;  deserts  to  British,  250-256, 
284;  sketch,  172. 

Girty's  Town  (O.),  235. 

Gist,  Christopher,  scout,  209,  221. 

Gist,  Col.  Nathaniel,  209,  214. 

Givins,   Capt.   George,  43. 

Glenn,  Thomas,  killed,  58,  66. 

Gnadenhiitten,    Moravian  village,  94. 

Goosey,   Peter,  302,  305. 

Gordon,  Catherine,  214. 

Gordon,  Capt.  Harry,  166. 

Gosfield  township   (Ont.),  235. 

Goshen  church  (Pa.),  23. 

Gouldin,  John,  302. 

Graham,  Elizabeth,  captured,  78,  79, 
127. 

Graham,  Col.  James,  home  attacked, 
78-80,  127. 

Graham,  John,  killed,  79,  80. 

Grant,  Maj.  James,  defeated,  166. 

Granville  (W.  Va.),  founded,  217. 

Greathouse,  Jacob,  301. 

Green,   George,   Indian  trader,  59. 

Green,  James,  300. 

Green,  John,  222. 

Greenbrier  County  (Va.),  settle 
ment,  175;  pioneers,  63,  80,  163; 
officers,  206;  defense  of,  238,  239; 
militia,  124,  224,  225,  240,  294;  raid 
in,  78-82,  127,  159;  supplies  for, 
123. 

Greene,  Col.  Christopher,  at  Fort 
Mercer,  152. 

Greene,  Gen.  Nathaniel,  246. 

Greene  County  (Pa.),  22,  23,  53,  264. 

Greensburg  (Pa.),  39,  69. 

"Greenway,"  Pennsylvania  estate, 
38. 

Grenadier  Squaw,  at  Fort  Ran 
dolph,  195;  gives  information,  26, 
186,  225;  messenger,  209,  261; 
sketch,  26. 

Grigsby,   Charles,  37. 

Grimes.     See  Graham. 

Grubb,  Jacob,  304. 

Guthrie,   Adam,  304. 

Guthrie,   Capt.   Jack,  40. 


Guyashusta  (Giasodo,  Kyashoto), 
Seneca  chief,  173,  188,  189. 

Gwinnett,  Button,  297. 

Haggln,  James  B.,  aid  acknowl 
edged,  182. 

Haggin,  John,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
181,  182. 

Haggin's  Station   (Ky.),  settled,  182. 

Haldimand,  Gen.  Frederick,  11. 

Half  King,  Wyandot  chief,  28,  29, 
167. 

Hall,  Capt.  James  (John),  at  court 
martial,  43;  at  Fort  Randolph, 
122,  159;  tried,  177. 

Hall,  William,  302,  305. 

Hamilton,  — ,  at  Fort  Randolph, 
158,  159. 

Hamilton,  Henry,  governor  of  De 
troit,  7,  231;  holds  Indian  council, 
7-13,19;  sends  out  Indian  parties, 
29,  88,  102,  232;  welcomes  Loyal 
ists,  274,275;  suspects  officer,  283; 
hated  by  Americans,  9;  humane 
policy,  282;  proclamations,  14,  39, 
46,  70,  71,  143,  152,  198,  242,  254, 
284;  letters,  161,  249,  280-288;  cap 
tured  by  Clark,  193,  288;  Dela 
ware  message  for,  115;  sketch,  7. 

Hamilton,  Lieut.  John,  218,  219,  247. 

Hamilton,   Reuben,  303. 

Hamilton  family,  attacked,  159. 

Hammond,    Philip,   messenger,   248. 

Hammond  family,  248. 

Hampshire  County  (W.  Va.),  135, 
136,  231;  militia,  17,  106,  109,  134, 
154,  238,  273,  300. 

Hancock  County   (W.   Va.),  45. 

Hand,  Gen.  Edward,  appointed 
commandant,  1-3,  16,  55,  110;  de 
scribes  conditions,  19, .  20,  24,  25; 
protects  frontier,  76;  popularity, 
144;  suspected  as  Loyalist,  143, 
185;  messages  to  Delawares,  86-88, 
112-114,  147;  orders  fort  evacuated, 
82;  summons  council,  145,  147; 
warned  of  raids,  15,  21,  24,  29; 
warns  settlements,  268;  plans  ex- 


INDEX 


315 


peditions,  42-45,  48-50,  74-76,  133, 
158,  193-195,  201-203;  abandons  ex 
peditions,  136,  148,  154-156,  192; 
winter  campaign,  106,  190,  215-223, 
256;  hears  of  Foreman's  defeat, 
106;  visits  Fort  Henry,  138-141, 
145,  146;  Fort  Randolph,  162, 
171-177,  184,  186,  188-191;  hears  of 
American  success,  136;  aids  Clark, 
196,  197;  Rogers,  199;  requests 
recall,  189,  191;  recalled,  294; 
property  near  Fort  Pitt,  200,  277; 
papers,  5;  sketch,  2;  portrait,  1. 

Hand,  Mrs.  Edward,  letters  for,  5, 
7,  16,  49,  50,  146,  156;  at  Fort  Pitt, 
200;  message,  298;  sketch,  5. 

Handlen,  John,  304. 

Hanks,  John,  recollections  of  siege 
of  Fort  Henry,  58-61. 

Hanna,  Charles  A.,  Wilderness 
Trail,  165,  166,  200. 

Hanna,  Mrs.  Robert,  71. 

Hannastown  (Pa.),  founder,  71; 
recruiting  at,  69;  rendezvous,  39, 
70;  Hand  visits,  82;  raided,  40, 
71,  216;  sketch,  6. 

Hanwood,  John,  303. 

Hardin,  — ,  mill  owner,  24. 

Hardman,   Shawnee  chief,  126. 

Hargis,  Thomas,  305. 

Harkness,  Robert,  302. 

Harmon,  Gen.  Josiah,  235. 

Harmon,  Daniel,  scouting,  38. 

Harmon,   Peter,   scouting,  38. 

Harmon  family,  38. 

Harna,  Isaac,  300. 

Harness,  John,  23. 

Harries,  Samuel,  23. 

Harrison,  Capt.  — ,  302. 

Harrison  County  (Ky.),  62,  218. 

Harrison  County  (W.  Va.),  raided, 
37. 

Harrod,  Capt.  William,  at  Grave 
Creek,  4;  company,  61,  302;  re 
cruiting,  43,  44;  enlists  with  Clark, 
226,  227,  263,  264;  sketch,  43. 

Harrodsburg    (Ky.),    pioneers,    182, 


194,  204;  garrison,  184;  attacked, 
31,  183;  letter  from,  181-183. 

Hart,  Nathaniel,  271. 

Hathaway,   Capt.  — ,  55. 

Haut,  Henry,  303. 

Haut,  Tobias,  303. 

Hay,  Jehu,  British  Indian  agent,  9, 
12,  275,  276. 

Hayes,   Matthew,  303. 

Haymaker,  Jacob,  304. 

Haymond,  Henry,  Harrii-on  County, 
W.  V.,  37. 

Hazel,  Edward,  274,  275,  284. 

Hazelwood,   Com.  John,  152. 

Heath,  Capt.  — ,  303. 

Heavins,  — ,  Virginia  Layalist,  169. 

Heckewelder,  John,  Narrative,  86, 
166,  167,  260. 

Hedges,  Ezekiel,  301. 

Helm,  Capt.  Leonard,  194,  272,  2S6. 

Henderson,  Capt.  James,  79,  80,  127. 

Henderson,  Col.  John,  80. 

Henderson,  Nathan,  303. 

Henderson,   Col.   Richard,  271. 

Hendricks,  Thomas,  302. 

Hening,  Walter,    Statutes,   143,  170. 

Henry,  Patrick,  governor  of  Vir 
ginia,  16,  79,  212;  plans  defense, 
205-209,  262,  263;  sends  supplies, 
203;  notified  of  Cornstalk's  mur 
der,  175-177;  sends  Western  ex 
peditions,  196,  197,  199,  278;  let 
ters,  16-18,  30-33,  74-76,  202,  225, 
226,  240,  241;  letters  for,  154, 
223-225. 

Herbert,  Michael,  249. 

Hessians,  attack  fort,  152;  attacked, 
146. 

Heth.     See  Heath. 

Hickson,  — ,  Loyalist  drowned,  142- 
144. 

Higgins,  John,  deserts  to  British, 
250-255. 

Higginson.     See  Hickson. 

Hinkston,  Col.  John,  Kentucky 
pioneer,  181,  218,  304. 

Historical  Register,  253. 


316 


INDEX 


lloagland,  Capt.  Henry,  45. 

llodowndaoga,   Seneca  chief,  180. 

Hoecraft,  John,  304. 

Holliday's  Cove,  45. 

Hopkins,    Capt.    John,   150. 

Howe,  Gen.  William,  73,  76,  87,138; 
army,  190,  208,  210;  battle  with, 
123;  leaves  Philadelphia,  299. 

Howel,  James,  231. 

Hulbert,    A.    B.,    Indian  Thorough 
fares,  178. 

Hunt,  John  S.,  aid  acknowledged, 
219. 

Huntsville  (Ala.),  184. 

Hupp,  Philip,  302, 

II ur,    Conrad,   305. 

Huron  Indians.     See  Wyandot. 

Hutchins,  Thomas,  map,  164. 

Hutton,  Capt.  — ,  at  Fort  Henry, 
295. 

Illinois,  British  in,  285,  292;  pio 
neers,  36,200;  expeditions  to,  203, 
264;  historical  society,  203;  Col 
lections,  11,  184,  281,  286-288,  292. 

Independence   township    (O.),   165. 

Indian  Territory,   sites  in,  119. 

Indiana,  Indian  land  cessions  in, 
119;  land  grant,  194. 

Indiana  Company,  292. 

Indiana  County  (Pa.),  pioneers,  70, 
71. 

Indians,  trails,  4,  279;  frontiersmen 
murder,  85,  86,  233;  council,  7-13; 
method  of  enumeration,  13.  See 
also  respective  tribes. 

Ingle,  William,  301. 

Iowa,   Indians  in,  147. 

Iroquois  Indians.    See  Six  Nations. 

Irvine,   Hannah,  248. 

I  .sin  nils:  Bermuda,  299.  Long,  192. 
Prison,  41.  St.  Joseph,  288. 
Staten,  256. 

Jack,  Capt.  Matthew,  69,  71. 


Jack,    Lieut.    William,   69,   99. 

Jamestown  (Va.),  105. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  Virginia  lawyer, 

170. 

Jennings,   John,  Journal,  292. 
Johnson,    Col.    Guy,    British    Indian 

agent,   8. 
Johnson,  Sir  John,  at  Indian  treaty, 

20. 
Johnson,    Rachel,    recollections,   107, 

108. 

Johnson,   Sir  William,  116. 
Johnston,  John,   Indian  agent,  118. 
Johnston,  Samuel,  301. 
Jones,   Rev.    David,   cited,  4. 
Jones,    Gabriel,    commissioner,    198, 

228. 

Jones,  Morgan,  letter  from,  23. 
Jones,  Solomon,  301,  302. 
Jumonville,  Sieur  de,  221. 


Knlb,  Baron  Johann  de,  211. 

Kanan,   Lawrence,  302. 

Kanawha  County  (W.  Va.),  175. 

Kansas,  Indians  in,  119. 

Kaskaskia  (111.),  spies  sent  to,  184; 
expedition  against,  182,  194,  203, 
226,  264,  286;  merchants,  288; 
Papers,  184. 

Kaskaskia   Indians,   habitat,   119. 

Katy.     See  Grenadier   Squaw. 

Kayashuta.      See    Guyashusta. 

Keener,    Bastian,   302. 

Kelley,  — ,  removes  from  frontier, 
71. 

Kelly,  — ,  messenger,  30. 

Kelly,   James,   messenger,   178. 

Kelly,   John,    Indian   trader,   178. 

Kelly,  Maj.   John  Jr.,  officer,  178. 

Kelly,  Walter,  West  Virginia  pio 
neer,  175. 

Kelly  family,  Pennsylvania  pio 
neers,  178. 

Kelly's,  on  Kanawha,  125,  127,  224, 
240. 

Kennedy,   Patrick,  292. 


INDEX 


317 


Kenton,  Simon,  164. 

Kentucky,  explored,  70,  164;  bound 
ary,  271;  census,  183;  governor, 
213;  constitutional  convention,  194; 
raided,  12,  31,  102,  103,  235,  252; 
destitute,  283;  aid  for,  76;  de 
fense,  196,  197,  226;  news  from, 
181-183;  express,  233;  expedition 
for,  263;  emigration  to,  61,  106, 
264;  pioneers,  77,  109,  162,  174, 
184,  190,  194,  210,  213,  218,  300. 

Kentucky  County,  militia,  184. 

Kickapoo  Indians,  neutral,  102,  119; 
on  warpath,  282;  sketch,  118. 

Killbuck,  Delaware  chief,  15,  112, 
115,  244;  at  Detroit,  166,  254. 

Kilbuck  Jr.,  Delaware  Indian,  86. 

King,  James,  303. 

King  William  County  (Va.),  17. 

Kinkead,  Andrew,  79. 

Kinkead  family,  Augusta  County 
pioneers,  79. 

Kiscapoo,  Shawnee  clan,  20. 

Kittanning,  Indian  town,  15,  146, 
234.  See  also  Fort  Kittanning. 

Knox,  Capt.   Robert,  304. 

Kushayhking.     See   Coshocton. 

Kuskuskies,  Indian  town,  178,  213, 
230. 

Kuykendall,   Benjamin,   277. 

Kyle,  Capt.  John,  305. 

La  Balme,  Col.  Mottin  de,  283. 

Labat,  Ignace,  303. 

Lachanse,    Nicolas    Caillot    dit,    286, 

287. 

Lafayette,  Marquis  de,  105,  211. 
Lafayette  (Ind.),  Indian  town  near, 

118,  281. 

Lakes:    Erie,  103,  164,  250.    George, 

31.     Ontario,  285. 
La  Mothe,  Guillaume,  287,  288. 
Lancaster  (Pa.),  2,  20,  103,  192,  244, 

298. 

Lancaster  County  (Pa.),  56,  139,  178. 
Larue  County  (Ky.),  184. 


La  Salle,  Robert  Cavelier  de,  200. 

Laughlin,  Randall,  captured,  70. 

Laurens,  Henry,  254-256,  297. 

Law,  John,  in  Mississippi  company, 
199. 

Law,  Richard,  Congressional  com 
missioner,  187. 

Lawrence,  Valentine,  305. 

Lawson,  Moses,  301. 

Leach.     See  Leetch. 

Lee,  Francis  Lightfoot,  132,  133. 

Lee,  Richard  Henry,  132,  187. 

Lee  family,  17. 

Leetch,  Capt.  James,  47,  56,  304. 

Lewis,  Col.  Andrew,  124,  125,  223. 

Lewis  family,   residence,   176. 

Lewisburg  (YV.  Va.).  See  Camp 
Union. 

Lexington   (Va.),  resident,  105. 

Leyba,   Francisco  de,  270. 

Ligonier  (Pa.),  during  the  Revolu 
tion,  38,  39,  151,  152;  pioneer,  46; 
raided,  165,  173,  179,  180;  sketch, 
165.  See  also  Fort  Ligonier. 

Limestone  (Ky.),  181. 

Lincoln,   Gen.  Benjamin,  298. 

Lincoln  County   (Ky.),  194. 

Linn,  Lieut.   Benjamin,  183, 184, 194. 

Linn,  Col.  William,  106,  183,  272, 
302;  in  Foreman's  defeat,  106-112, 
134;  letter,  132,  133;  death,  109; 
sketch,  106. 

Linn,   William,    of  Brownsville,  109. 

Linn,  William  Johnson,  inter 
viewed,  109. 

Little    Beaver,   Ouiatanon   chief,  119. 

Lochry,  Col.  Archibald,  county 
lieutenant,  3,  70,  139,  148,  166;  at 
tacked  by  Indians,  71;  summoned 
to  Fort  Pitt,  145;  letters,  39,  40, 
146,  147;  expedition,  41,  46,  47,71; 
sketch,  39. 

Lochry,   Capt.   William,   139,   141. 

Lockhart,   Capt.    Patrick,  43. 

Lockridge,    Capt.    Andrew,   79. 

Loftus,   Steel,  killed,  80. 

Logan,  Indian  chief,  4. 


318 


INDEX 


Logan,   Col.   Benjamin,  164,  182,  248. 

Logan,   David,  248. 

Logan,  James,  248. 

Logan,  James  Jr.,  messenger,  248. 

Logan,  Joseph  D.,  248. 

Logan    County    (O.)>    Indian    town 

in,  118. 

Logan's  Station   (Ky.),  attacked,  31. 
Logstown,    fort    at,    34,    35,    44,    217, 

254;      militia,     138,     140;      skirmish 

near,  142,  147,  155. 
Long,  Gideon,  53. 
Long,  Jeremiah,  53. 
Lorimier,  Louis,  283. 
Loudon,   negro   at    Fort    Henry,   60, 

63. 

Loudon  County  (Md.),  58. 
Loudoun     County     (Va.),    135,     154, 

177,  263. 
Louisiana,    during    Spanish    regime, 

199,  289-293. 
Louisville    (Ky.),    174,    194,    226,    233, 

265. 

Loup  Indians.     See  Munsee. 
Lovars,   Capt.  Andrew,  304. 
Love,   Capt.   Thomas,  302. 
Love,  Capt.  William,  304. 
Lower  Sandusky,  captives  at,  47. 
Lowry,    Samuel,  301. 
Loyalists,     laws     against,     169,     170; 

troubles    with,    51-53,    142-145,    184- 

187,  198,   207,   208;     list,  284;     from 

New  York,  173;  escape  to  Detroit, 

249-256. 

Lucas,   Capt.    Edward,   135. 
Lucas,  Capt.   Edward  Jr.,  135,  140. 
Lutherans,   in  America,  211. 
Lynch,  Col.   Charles,  267. 


McAfee,  James,  Kentucky   pioneer, 

63. 

McBride,   Roger,  killed,  59. 
McClanahan,   Maj.  -,  150. 
McCleary,   Thomas,   murdered,   5. 
McClellan,    — ,    Pittsburgh    resident, 

141. 


McClelland,  James,  256,  303. 

McClelland,   Capt.   John,   304. 

McClelland's   Station    (Ky.),  181, 182. 

McClure,  David,  76,  77,  132,  133. 

McColloch,    Maj.   Samuel,  68. 

McConnell,   Hugh,  66. 

McConnell,  Rebecca.  See  Shep 
herd. 

McCown,  Malcolm,  tried  for  Corn 
stalk's  murder,  178. 

McCullough,   John,   219. 

McDonald,  Maj.  Angus,  45,  54. 

McDonald,  John,   302. 

McDonald,   Patrick,  304. 

McDowell,   Lieut.    Edward,  304. 

McDowell,  Maj.  Samuel,  175,  228, 
229,  240,  248;  sketch,  228. 

McFarland,  Col.  Daniel,  112,  145, 
148,  295,  296,  305;  sketch,  112. 

McFarlane,   Andrew,   captured,   37. 

McFarren,   Capt.   Martin,  43. 

McGary,  Hugh,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
183. 

McGouldrick,  James,  304. 

McGrew,   Robert,  300. 

McGuire,   Maj.    Francis,   40. 

McGuire,   Thomas,  40. 

Mclntosh,  John   Mor,    297. 

McTntosh,  Gen.  Lachlan,  68,  190; 
appointed  to  Fort  Pitt,  297; 
sketch,  297. 

McKee,  Alexander,  Loyalist,  128, 
185-187,  234;  residence,  186;  pa 
roled,  156;  ordered  East,  201;  de 
serts  to  British,  143,  249-256,  260, 
284;  welcomed  by  British,  274-276, 
285;  sketch,  156. 

McKee,  Capt.  William,  at  Fort 
Randolph,  125,  127,  194-196;  com 
pany,  177;  letter,  246-248;  sketch, 
125. 

McKibben,  John,  residence,  41,  82, 
97. 

Mackinac  ,  Indians  gather  at,  8; 
British  at,  285,  288. 

McKinley,   Robert,   303. 

McLain,  Daniel,  108,  302. 


INDEX 


319 


McMahon.     See  McMechen. 

McMaicancy,   William,   304. 

McMechen,  Dr.  James,  at  Fort 
Henry,  56,  59,  60,  63;  clerk,  132. 

McMechen,  William,  59. 

McMechen's  Narrows,  battle  at,  106, 
112,  121,  129,  130,  301.  See  also 
Foreman's  defeat. 

McNutt,  Lieut.  James,  127,  128,  247. 

McNutt,  John,  127. 

Madison,  John,  296. 

Madison,    Lieut.   John  Jr.,  296,  305. 

Madison,  Capt.  Thomas,  269. 

Mahoning,   Indian  village,  178,  179. 

Maiden  (Ont.),  12,  275. 

Malott,   Catharine,   captured,  106. 

Mamaltese,    Delaware   Indian,  232. 

Manchac   (La.),  192,  289. 

Marchand,  Capt.   David,  47,  56,  304. 

Marchand   family,   47. 

Marion  County  (W.  Va.),  37. 

Marney,  John,  302. 

Marshall  County   (Va.),   court,   108. 

Martin,    Capt.   Hugh,  304. 

Martin's  Church  (W.  Va.),  273. 

Maryland,  Indians  in,  200;  pioneers, 
59,  248;  officers,  256,  257;  Howe, 
87. 

Mascoutin  Indians,  war  party,  282. 

Mason,  Capt.  Samuel,  at  Fort  Hen 
ry,  21,  23,  39,  56,  68;  Beech  Bot 
tom,  62;  scouting,  21,  46;  sally 
from  fort,  60-64,  74;  wounded,  58, 
65. 

Mason  County  (Ky.),  pioneers,  164. 

Matthews,  Donelly  commissary,  123. 

Matthews,  Sampson,  123,  228,  229, 
240,  248;  sketch,  228. 

May,  David,  commissary,  124,  125. 

Maysville   (Ky.).     See  Limestone. 

Meason,   Col.  Isaac,  221. 

Mequochoke,   Shawnee  clan,  20. 

Mercer,   Gen.    Hugh,  214. 

Mercer  County  (Pa.),  217. 

"Merlin,"    British  ship,  152. 

Methodists,   in  Virginia,  54,  175. 

Meymaconon,    Delaware   Indian,    86. 


Miami  Indians,  village,  283;  at  De 
troit  council,  7-13;  neutral,  102, 
119;  sketch,  118. 

Michael,  Huron  Indian,  291. 

Micheykapeecci,   captured,  228,   229. 

Michigan  Pioneer  and  Historical  Col 
lections,  11,  161,  174,  220,  249. 

Miller,  Lieut.  Anthony,  300,  301. 

Miller,  Peter,  305. 

Miller,   Capt.   Samuel,  41,  55,  69. 

Mills,  Edward,  at  Fort  Henry,  62. 

Mills,  John,  at  Wheeling,  59,  60,  62. 

Mills,  Lieut.  John,  302. 

Mingo  Indians,  towns,  4,  165,  230; 
friendly,  6,  114;  hostile,  19,  67,  75, 
86,  112,  138,  166,  235,  236,  269;  war 
party,  95,  96,  100,  282;  conciliated, 
260. 

Mingo  Bottom,  fort  at,  4,  62,  63. 

Mingo  Junction   (O.),  4. 

Minor,   Capt.  John,  21,  24,  53. 

Mississippi,  settlers  in,  226,  227. 

Missouri,   Indians  in,  119. 

Mitchell,  Capt.  Hugh,  305. 

Mobile,  during  the  Revolution,  192, 
289. 

Mohawk  Indians,  hostile,  20. 

Mohican  Indians,  hostile,  19,  164. 

Monongahela  County,  305. 

Monongalia  County  (Va.),  militia, 
17,  18,  84,  112,  121,  122,  129,  140, 
142,  155,  177,  238,  295,  296,302;  offi 
cers,  6,  51,  145,  148;  fort  in,  279; 
volunteers,  42;  raided,  255,  268; 
reinforcements  from,  50;  Loyal 
ists  in,  143. 

Monongalia  County  (W.  Va.),  site 
in,  21,  44,  217,  273;  pioneer,  135. 

Monroe  County  (O.),  21. 

Montgomery,  Col.  John,  194,  264. 

Montgomery  County   (Ky.),  58,  59. 

Montgomery  County  (Va.),  224,  239, 
240,  294. 

Montour,  John,  Indian  chief,  164, 
232,  280;  sketch,  19. 

Montreal,  captives  at,  41,  71,  232. 

Moore,  Lieut.  — ,  killed,  194,  203. 


320 


INDEX 


Moorhead,  — ,  captured,  37. 

Moorhead,  Capt.  Samuel,  at  Kittan- 
ning,  3;  attacked,  46;  evacuates 
Kittanning,  82;  builds  Fort  Hand, 
41,  97-99;  company  of,  238;  letters, 
15,  37,  38,  69,  97. 

Moravians,  among  Delawares,  164, 
217,  284;  villages  of,  55,  94,  165, 
167;  raids  against,  4,  130,  249. 
See  also  Zeisberger. 

Morgan,   an  Indian,  195. 

Morgan,   Gen.   Daniel,  246. 

Morgan,  Col.  George,  an  Illinois 
trader,  195,  292;  acting  commis 
sary,  17,  202;  Indian  agent,  19,88, 
89,  91,  101,  113,  114,  126,  231,  233, 
235,  236;  messages  to  Indians,  91, 
92,  115-118,  136-138,  228,  234-237, 
241-243,  269,  270;  goes  East,  20, 
94,  113,  120;  returns  to  Fort  Pitt, 
33;  suppresses  proclamation,  284; 
suspected  as  Loyalist,  128,  184- 
187;  arrested,  143,  184,  187;  re 
leased,  185;  vindicated,  187,  250; 
letters,  86,  244,  254-257,  276,  277, 
288,  297;  letters  for,  18,  19,  28, 
100,  101,  147,  172,  173,  188,  258; 
writes  Spanish  governor,  288-293; 
sends  news  of  French  alliance, 
297,  298;  Indian  name,  92,  234; 
sketch,  5. 

Morgan,  Col.  Zackwell,  militia  offi 
cer,  18,  37,  112,  129;  defending 
frontier,  21,  23,  24,  47,  50,  84;  act 
ive  against  Loyalists,  52,  53,  184, 
185;  arrested,  142-145;  letters,  18, 
43,  44,  49,  52,  93;  sketch,  18. 

Morgantown  (W.  Va.),  37. 

Morris,  Joseph,  305. 

Morris,  Robert,  financier,  191. 

Morris,  Bishop  Thomas  A.,  175. 

Morris,  William,  West  Virginia 
pioneer,  175. 

Morris  family,  of  West  Virginia, 
175. 

Moundsville  (W.  Va.),  108. 

Mount  Braddock  (Pa.),  221. 


Mountains:  Alleghany,  6,  136, 
150,  153,  174.  Blue  Ridge,  135, 
171.  Chestnut,  153.  Laurel,  25, 
40,  153,  165.  Sewell,  151.  Shenan- 
doah,  136. 

Mounts,  Col.  Providence,  216,  218, 
304. 

Muchmore,  Jonathan,  254. 

Muhlenberg,  Gen.  John  Peter  Ga 
briel,  190,  211,  212. 

Munsee  Indians,  messenger  to,  147, 
164;  friendly,  230;  attacked,  215, 
216,  228,  229;  sketch,  147. 

Munter's  Bottom,  fort  at,  31. 

Murphy,  Samuel,  recollections,  190, 
216-220. 

Murray,  Capt.  John,  27. 

Murray,  Louise  W.,  Old  Tioga 
Point,  180. 

Murray,   Richard,   302. 

Muskingum   County   (O.),  109. 

Musquake.     See   Fox   Indians. 


Natchez  (Miss.),  in  the  Revolu 
tion,  191,  226,  289. 

Neilly,  — ,   messenger,  240. 

Neugle,   Andrew,   304. 

Neville,  Col.  John,  2,  244. 

New  Derry   (Pa.),   settlement,  148. 

New  Haven  (Pa.),  221. 

New  Inverness   (Ga.),   297. 

New  Orleans,  relations  with,  197, 
287,  291;  expeditions  for,  191,  197- 
201;  Spanish  govern,  289. 

New  York,  frontier  attacked,  8,  76, 
173,  180;  Loyalists,  173;  Colonial 
Documents,  8,  20;  Journals  of 
Provincial  Council,  20. 

New  York  City,  British  hold,  192, 
232;  public  library,  5. 

Newcastle  (Pa.),  217. 

Newell,   Samuel,  residence,  142. 

Newton  Falls  (O.),  178. 

Niagara,  British  headquarters,  11, 
153,  173,  174,  179,  230,  242,  285; 
commandant,  285;  captives  at,  37, 


INDEX 


321 


180,    232;      scouting    toward,    128; 

frontier,  251;     Loyalists  at,  11,  12. 
Nicholas,  John,  305. 
Nicholas,  Joseph,  303. 
Nicholas,  Philip,  305. 
Nicholls  family,  227. 
Nicholson    (Nichols),    Thomas,    147, 

178. 

Niles  (O.),  site,  178. 
Niney,  Bartholomew,  301. 
Nonhelema,  Shawnee  squaw,  26. 
North,  Lord  Frederick,  299. 
North  Carolina,  boundary,  271. 
Northumberland   County   (Pa.),  7. 
Northumberland   County   (Va.),  194. 


Ogle,  Jacob,  killed,  301. 

Ogle,  Capt.  Joseph,  at  Fort  Henry, 
55,  56;  scouting,  46,  47;  at  siege, 
64-66;  Beech  Bottom,  83;  with 
Foreman,  106,  111,  302;  letter,  36; 
sketch,  36. 

Ogle  family,  36. 

Oglethorpe,   Gen.  James,  297. 

O'Hara,  Hugh,  304. 

O'Hara,  Capt.  James,  278,  302,  303; 
portrait,  278. 

Ohio,  Indian  trails,  178;  sites,  106; 
pioneers,  178;  Archaeological  and 
Historical  Society  Publications, 
178. 

Ohio  County  (Va.),  stations  in,  33; 
militia,  4,  17,  18,  42,  155,  245,  305; 
officers,  3,  108,  130,  132,  145; 
scouts,  37;  defense  of,  177,  238, 
268. 

Oklahoma,  residents,  119. 

Old  Yie  (Petalla),  Shawnee  host 
age,  149,  158;  murdered,  160,  163, 
188,  189,  259. 

O'Neal,  Roger,  303. 

Oneida  Indians,  at  Oswego  treaty, 
20;  friendly,  87,  137. 

"Ontario,"  foundered,  285. 

Orange  County  (Va.),  292. 

Ormsby,  John,  303. 

21 


Oswego  (N.  Y.),  treaty  at,  20,  173. 
Ottawa  Indians,  in  Detroit  council, 

7-13;     at    Fort    Pitt,    16;     village, 

164,     165,     230;      interpreter,     231; 

war  party,  102. 
Ouiatanon,  Indian  town,  7,  119,  235, 

292;    British    commandant,  281,  282; 

destroyed,  213. 
Ouiatanon    (Wea)    Indians,    neutral, 

102,  119;  war  party,  282;  campaign 

against,  213;    sketch,  118. 
Ozark.     See  Arkansas   Post. 


Page,  Gov.  John,  letter,  85,  86; 
message  to  Indians,  88-91,  114,  118. 

Parsons,  Capt.  James,,  135. 

Patterson,  Robert,  61. 

Parsons,  Capt.  James,  135. 

Pattonsburg  (Va.),  incorporated, 
123. 

Paxton,  Capt.  — ,  Augusta  officer, 
122. 

Pennsylvania,  frontier  defense,  1, 
8,  48,  173,  180,  232;  boundary  dis 
pute,  2,  48,  72,  110,  190;  troops,  5, 
293;  legislature,  6,  24,  168;  offi 
cials,  212;  Loyalists  in,  143,  198; 
Arc/tires,  5,  41,  71,  147,  166,  191; 
Colonial  Records,  24 ;  Magazine  oj 
History,  292. 

Pensacola  (Fla.),  captured,  289. 

Pentecost,  Dorsey,  38. 

Peoria  (111.),  expedition  against, 
264. 

Peoria  Indians,  habitat,  119. 

Perrin,  Edward,  40,  41. 

Perry,  Capt.  Oliver,  250. 

Petalla.     See  Old  Yie. 

Peters,  Richard,  250,  253;  letters 
for,  155,  156,  189,  192. 

Peterson,  Edward,  300. 

Pew.     See  Pugh. 

Philadelphia,  address  from,  6;  offi 
cers  at,  92,  139,  192,  193;  Congress 
leaves,  133;  skirmish  near,  146; 
British  take,  286;  leave,  289. 


322 


INDEX 


Piankeshaw   Indians,  119. 

Pickaway  Plains,  26. 

Pickaway  County  (O.),  68. 

Pierce,   Capt.  — ,  45. 

Pierson,  Wyllis,  303. 

Pigman,  Capt.  Jesse,  22,  49,  142. 

Pipe,  Delaware  Indian,  218,  219. 

Pipe,  Captain,  Delaware  chief,  138, 
165,  218,  228,  270;  village,  179;  at 
Detroit,  166;  friendly,  244. 

Piper,   Col.  John,  133. 

Piqua,  Shawnee  clan,  20;  village, 
283. 

Pittsburgh,  site,  50;  road  to,  6; 
claimed  by  two  states,  2;  pro 
posed  treaty  at,  19;  endangered, 
38;  reinforced,  69;  supplies  for, 
272;  smallpox  at,  141;  White 
Eyes,  95;  Girty,  67,  172;  black 
smith,  217;  traders,  130;  officers, 
7;  militia,  238,  276,  277;  list  of, 
303,  304;  cemetery,  277;  Carnegie 
Museum  Annals,  185,  277.  See 
also  Fort  Pitt. 

Pluggy,  hostile  Indian,  30;  son,  15, 
232. 

Pluggy's  Town,  hostile,  5,  6,  15,  18, 
19,  48,  230,  231. 

Poage,  Maj.  George,  43. 

Poage,   Maj.  John,  124,  172. 

Poage,  Robert,  Augusta  pioneer, 
124. 

Point  Pleasant  (W.  Va.),  troops  at, 
33,  151,  158.  See  also  Fort  Ran 
dolph. 

Polk,  John,  301,  302. 

Pomroy,   Col.  John,  153,  304. 

Post,   Christian   Frederick,   118,  217. 

Potawatomi    Indians,   7-13. 

Potter,   Gen.  James,  146. 

Potter,  John,  146. 

Powell,  Abraham,  301. 

Powell,   Benjamin,    300. 

Presbyterians,  in  Virginia,  171,  248; 
Kentucky,  164. 

Preston,  Robert,  266. 

Preston,    Col.    William,    letters,   168, 


223-225,  265-268;  letters  for,  203, 
204,  206,  209,  240,  241;  executes 
will,  271;  message  to  Shawnee, 
258-261. 

Price,  — ,  Virginia  Loyalist,  169. 

Prince  William  County  (Va.),  271. 

Princeton   (N.  J.),   campaign  for,  146. 

Proctor,   Col.  John,  70,  151-153,  193. 

Province,  John  Jr.,  305. 

Pugh,  Jacob,  254,  300. 

Pugh,  Jonathan,   301. 

Purdie,  James,  302. 

Putnam,  Gen.  Israel,  232. 

Quttkers,  in  New  Jersey,  15. 
Quebec,  ordinance  of,  280;    captives 

at,    232,    249;     messages   from,   251, 

253;    attacked,  139. 
Queen's  Rangers,  173. 
Ouigley,  Hugh,  303. 


Rader     (Roeder),     Capt.     Michael, 

135. 

Rader  family,   135. 
Randolph  County  (W.  Va.),   279. 
Ratchkin,  Capt.  James,  135. 
"Rattletrap,"     Willing's     boat,     191, 

202;     crew   of,   302,  303. 
Ravenscroft,   Thomas,  218. 
Ray,  James,   Kentucky  pioneer,   182, 

183. 

Reardon's   (Rorden)   Bottom,  4,  44. 
Redhawk,     Shawnee     hostage,     149, 

157,    158;     murdered,   160,  163,   176, 

188,  189,  259. 
Redick,  John,  304. 
Redick,  William,  303. 
Redstone   (Pa.),  Indian  raid  at,   29; 

refugees,     59;      powder     magazine, 

51,  52;    early  settlers,  58,  133,  254; 

council   at,   45;     Hand,  73;     Clark, 

271,  272;    sketch,  42. 
Reed,  Hugh,  303. 
Reed,     Col.     Joseph,    commissioner, 

198. 
Reed's  Station,  40. 


INDEX 


323 


Reel,  Gasper,  304. 

Renards.     See  Fox  Indians. 

Richards,  Charles,  304. 

Richardson,  — ,  murdered,  180. 

Richardville,  Miami   chief,  283. 

Richmond  (Va.),  288,  292. 

Riffle,  Jacob,  305. 

Riffle,  Matthias,  305. 

Riser,  Henry,  301. 

Ritchie,  Craig,  294,  295. 

Ritchie,  Matthew,  294,  295. 

Rivers:  Allegheny,  15,  40,  70,  82, 
114,  147,  153,  173,  179,  180,  188,  193, 
221,  251.  Auglaize,  235.  Blanche, 
164,  165.  Cheat,  142,  143,  273. 
Clinch,  38.  Cuyahoga,  trail  to, 
179;  stores  at,  193,  215;  spy,  230, 
231;  sketch,  164,  165.  Detroit,  249. 
Elk  (W.  Va.),  206,  224.  Great 
Kanawha,  3,  5,  42,  74,  125,  140,  151, 
155,  156,  158,  163,  167,  171,  174,  175, 
178,  188,  189,  232,  234,  236,  237,  250, 
254,  259.  Great  Miami,  39,  219,  243, 
251,  283.  Green  (Ky.),  184,  271. 
Greenbrier  (Va.),  79.  Hinkston's 
(Ky.),  181.  Hockhocking  (O.), 
126.  Holston,  182,  265,  271.  Jack 
son's  (Va.),  150.  Kanawha— see 
Great  Kanawha.  Kentucky,  253, 
283.  Licking  (Ky.),  181,  190.  Lit 
tle  Kanawha,  22.  Little  Miami, 
26,  252.  Little  Wabash,  265. 
Maumee,  235,  275.  Miami— see 
Great  Miami.  Middle  (Va.),  162. 
Mississippi,  160,  191,  194,  287. 
Monongahela,  21,  23,  37,  45,  55,  56, 
58,  59,  93,  143,  183,  184,  217,  226, 
263,  272,  273,279,296.  Muskingum, 
4,  55,  100,  165,  178,  218,  249.  Ohio 
6,  10,  21,  22,  34,  45,  55,  59,  63,  81, 
107,  126,  146,  163,  172,  196,  200,  203 
231,  246,  257,  258,  264,  282,  283,  287 
forts  on,  3-6,  47.  Potomac,  15,  34, 
40,  136,  217,  263.  Rock  (111.),  194. 
Rocky— see  Great  Miami.  St. 
Joseph,  7.  Schuylkill,  123,  146 


Scioto,  4,  26,  59,  88,  126,  260. 
Slate,  59.  Susquehanna,  20,  25,  67, 
174,  200.  Thames  (Ont.),  250. 
Tuscarawas  (O.),  178,  218,  298. 
Tygart  (Va.),  279.  Wabash,  10, 
118,  281,  286.  White  (Ind.),  118. 
Yadkin  (N.  C.),  103,  271.  Yough- 
iogheny,  38,  65,  67,  120,  143,  190, 
216,  221. 

Roberdeau,  Daniel,  commissioner, 
187. 

Robertson,  Andrew,  303. 

Robertson,  James,  304. 

Robertson,  Thomas,  302. 

Robinson,  — ,  messenger,  245. 

Robinson,  Andrew,   letter,  294-297. 

Robinson,  Capt.  John,  5,  72,  130. 

Robinson  township   (Pa.),  134. 

Rocheblave,  Frangois  Rastel,  Sieur 
de,  286,  287. 

Roche  de  Bout,  251. 

Rockbridge  County  (Va.),  no  ex 
posed  frontier,  224;  court,  177; 
records,  178;  pioneers,  127,  159, 
206,  246,  248;  militia,  105,  238-240, 
267,  268,  294. 

Rockingham  County  (Va.),  militia, 
238,  294,  296. 

Rody,  Richard,   303. 

Rogers,  — ,  loses  cattle    23. 

Rogers,  Col.  David,  expedition,  199, 
278. 

Roeder.     See  Rader. 

Roosevelt,  Theodore,  Winning  of  the 
West,  90. 

Rordon.     See  Reardon. 

Rowan,  William,  tried  for  Corn 
stalk's  murder,  178. 

Rowland,  John,  303. 

Rowland,  Capt.  Thomas,  43. 

Runs:  Beaver  (Pa.),  50.  Crooked 
(W.  Va.),  273.  Chartier's  (Pa.), 
200.  McGee's  (Pa.),  71.  Perrin's 
(W.  Va.),  41.  Piper's  (Pa.),  133. 
Reardon's  (Pa.),  44.  Sandy  (W. 


324 


INDEX 


Va.),  254.  Twelve  Mile  (Pa.),  39, 
151.  White  Pine  (Pa.),  82. 

Russell,  Col.  William,  in  Conti 
nental  army,  209-214,  218;  letter 
for,  134;  at  Fort  Pitt,  279;  sketch, 
7,  134. 

Ryan,  James,  303,  304. 

Ryan,  Lazarus,  302. 

Ryan,   Patrick,  302. 


St.  Asaph   (Ky.),   founded,  182. 

St.  Clair,  Gen.  Arthur,  48,  118,  166. 

St.   Clair  County  (111.),  36. 

Ste.   Genevieve  (Mo.),  286. 

St.  Leger,  Col.  Barry,  expedition, 
20. 

St.  Louis,  Spanish  at,  290;  pio 
neers,  174,  175. 

St.   Mary's  (O.),  trader  at,  235. 

Salt  Lick  town,  Indian  village,  178, 
219. 

Sandusky,  Indian  towns,  165;  Brit 
ish  at,  275,  282;  traders,  280; 
messengers  for,  19;  news  from, 
29,  95;  supplies  at,  103;  expedi 
tion  for,  130,  134;  Crawford  at,  12, 
134;  sketch,  134. 

Saunders,  John,  at  siege  of  Wheel 
ing,  60. 

Savannah  (Ga.),  during  the  Revo 
lution,  190,  297,  298. 

Scotch-Irish,  in  Pennsylvania,  148, 
153;  Virginia,  170. 

Scott,  Gen.  Charles,  119,  211,  213. 

Scott,  Capt.  David,  216,  217,  219. 

Scott,  Fanny,  killed,  217. 

Scott,  James,  escaped,  217. 

Scott,  Phebe,  killed,  217. 

Scott,  Samuel,  killed,  213. 

Second  Virginia  regiment,  213. 

Semple,  Samuel,  304. 

Seneca  Indians,  towns,  4;  chief,  20; 
interpreter  for,  172;  captive,  234; 
messenger  to,  179;  message  from, 
230;  friendly,  8;  hostile,  172-174, 
180,  188,  189;  fired  on,  86. 


Severance,  Frank  H.,  Old  Trails  on 
Niagara  Frontier,  173,  285.  "Cap 
tives  at  Niagara",  180. 

Shannon,  Capt.  Samuel,  at  Fort 
Henry,  46,  50,  56,  62;  sketch,  46, 
47. 

Shawnee  Indians,  clans,  20;  towns, 
25,  160,  165;  trail,  279;  migrations, 
166,  200;  traders  among,  249; 
captives,  78,  296;  in  French  .and 
Indian  War,  159;  at  siege  of  Fort 
Henry,  67;  messages  for,  92,  114, 
234-237,  242-244,  266;  friendly,  25, 
254;  chiefs  held  as  hostages,  126; 
chiefs  murdered,  157-163,  169,  175- 
177;  hostile,  22,  39,  150,  189,  205, 
207,  252,  255;  war  parties,  282,  283; 
at  Detroit  council,  7-13;  attempts 
to  conciliate,  186,  225,  258-261; 
McKee's  influence  with,  284;  ex 
pedition  against,  264. 

Shearer,  Capt.  Robert,  134,  135. 

Shearer,  William,  134. 

Shenandoah  County  (Va.),  militia 
238.  See  also  Dunmore  County. 

Shens,  William,  301. 

Shepherd,  Col.  David,  commandant 
at  Fort  Henry,  22,  33,  62,  66,  76, 
77,  83-85,  110,  131,  301;  repairs 
fort,  39;  describes  skirmish,  37; 
warned,  55;  during  siege,  60;  de 
scribes  siege,  72;  Foreman's  de 
feat,  106,  107;  letters,  14,  15,  46, 
47,  49-51,  120,  121,  222,  223,  245; 
letters  for,  1-3,  18,  221,  222,  227; 
buries  dead,  122;  as  messenger, 
133;  sketch,  3. 

Shepherd,  Moses,  65;    portrait,  222. 

Shepherd,  Rebecca  McConnell,  at 
siege  of  Fort  Henry,  66. 

Shepherd,  Sarah,  64. 

Shepherd,   William,  killed,  66. 

Shepherd  family,  46,  65;  residence, 
57,  59;  papers,  84. 

Shippen,  Edward,  message  for,  201, 
216. 

Shippensburg  (Pa.),   resident,  133. 


INDEX 


325 


Shirley,  James,   messenger,  142. 

Shiver,  John,  captured,  273. 

Shivers,  Elisha,  300. 

Shoers,  Thomas,  254. 

Shores,  Greenberry,  303. 

Shull,  — ,  Virginia  Loyalist,  169. 

Skelton,  Capt.  Joseph,  257,  276. 

Skillern,  Col.  George,  at  court  mar 
tial,  43;  commands  militia,  123; 
at  Fort  Randolph,  149,  150,  158, 
162,  172,  177;  letter,  124,  125; 
deposition,  224;  takes  deposition, 
163;  sketch,  123. 

Six,  John,  305. 

Six  Nations  (Iroquois)  Indians, 
towns,  164,  178,  217;  attitude,  31; 
hostile,  8,  11,  137,  173,  274;  influ 
ence  on  Western  tribes,  20;  send 
war-belts,  8,  19;  messages,  282; 
interpreter  for,  255.  See  also 
Mohawk,  Mingo,  Oneida,  Seneca, 
Tuscarora. 

Slover,  John,  captive,  235. 

Small,  John,  304. 

Smallman,  Maj.  Thomas,  73,  276. 

Smally,  James,  killed,  273. 

Smith,  — ,  killed,  142. 

Smith,   Devereux,  70-72. 

Smith,  Capt.  Hendry,  militia  offi 
cer,  81. 

Smith,  Hugh,  304. 

Smith,  Col.  James,  pursues  In 
dians,  70,  71,  151;  letter,  153;  let 
ter  for,  193;  sketch,  70. 

Smith,  John,  305. 

Smith,  William  Bailey,  103,   271. 

"Smithfield,"  Preston's  residence, 
168. 

Smith's  Ferry  (Ky.),  271. 

Smyth,  Rev.  Adam,  168,  169. 

Smyth,  Gen.  Alexander,  169. 

Smyth,  Samuel,  surgeon,  163. 

Sovereigns,    Hannah,   184. 

Southern  Historical  Magazine,  108. 

Spanish,  in  Louisiana,  199,  287;  re 
lations  with  Americans,  288-293. 

Spangler,  Jacob,  305. 


Spark,  Lieut.  James,   84. 

Sparks,  Capt.  William,  305. 

Spottsylvania  County  (Va.),  rec 
ords,  215. 

Spriggs,  Levin,  302. 

Springer,  Levi,  64. 

Springer,   Capt.  Zadoc,  37. 

Stagg,  Mrs.  Joseph,  recollections, 
62-65. 

Stanford    (Ky.),  182. 

Statler  family,  Virginia  pioneers,  21. 

Staunton,  Dr.  Edmund,  English 
divine,  176. 

Staunton  (Va.),  Augusta  County 
seat,  72;  pioneers,  162,  163,  196; 
a  rendezvous,  150;  rector  of,  168; 
Hand  visits,  156,  175,  176;  sketch, 
176. 

Steel,  — ,  at  siege  of  Fort  Henry,  61. 

Steel,  Col.  Archibald,  48,  49,  77, 138, 
139,  201;  sketch,  139. 

Stephen,  Gen.  Adam,  213. 

Stephenson,   Maj.  John,  190,  216-218. 

Stevens,   B.   J.,    Facsimiles,    161. 

Stewart,  — ,   boat-builder,  256,  257. 

Stewart,  Maj.  Jack,  256,  257. 

Stewart,  William,  221. 

Stewart.     See  also   Stuart. 

Stewart's  Crossings  (Pa.),  221. 

Stiles,  Benjamin,  219. 

Stodgill,  Joel,  78. 

Stony  Point,  captured,  257. 

Strain,  Michael,  303. 

Stuart,  Charles  A.,  furnishes  docu 
ment,  157. 

Stuart,   James,   killed,  273. 

Stuart,  Capt.  John,  letter  from, 
80-82;  narrative,  157-162. 

Sullivan,  Daniel,  spy,  230-233. 

Sullivan,  George  Rogers  Clark, 
Kentucky  pioneer,  175. 

Sullivan,  Capt.  James,  73,  174,  303. 

Sullivan,   Gen.   John,  256. 

Sullivan,  John  C,  at  St.  Louis,  174, 
175. 

Surphlitt  (Surplus),  Robert  (Rob 
in),  deserts  to  British,  250-252,  255. 


326 


INDEX 


Swan,  Charles,  264. 
Swan,  John,  pioneer,  263,  264. 
Swan,  Lieut.  John  Jr.,  263,  264. 
Swatswih.     See  James  Girty. 
Swearingen,  Col.  Van,  135. 
Symmes,  John  C.,  219. 

Talmenend,        Morgan's       Indian 

name,    92,    116,    118,    136,    138,    243. 

See  also   Col.    George   Morgan. 
Tammany.     See  Taimenend. 
Tawa  Indians.     See  Ottawa. 
Taylor,  Maj.  Henry,  44,  45. 
Taylor,  Isaac,  wounded,  79. 
Taylor,  James,  303. 
Taylor,  Samuel,  302. 
Taylorstown  (Pa.),  130. 
Tennessee,  boundary,  271. 
Terry,  John,  303. 
Teusbaugh,  Jacob,  305. 
Third   Virginia  regiment,   214. 
Thirteenth  Virginia  (West  Augusta) 

regiment,  7,   59,   174,  218;     at  Fort 

Pitt,  279;    officers,  147,  303. 
Thirty-fourth    British    artillery,    173, 

285. 
Thomas,     Richard,     deposition,    162, 

163. 
Thomson,      Charles,      secretary      of 

Congress,  294. 
Thwaites,     R.     G.,       Early     Western 

Travels,    118;     Withers' s  Chronicles, 

24,  37,  62,  93,  157,  249,  273. 
Tinkling   Spring   (Va.),    church,  171. 
Todd,  John,   in   Illinois,   292. 
Tonti,  Henri,  explorer,  199. 
Tomlinson,  Joseph,  21,  23. 
Tomlinson,   Lieut.   Samuel,  21,  GO,  63. 

Treaties:  Detroit  (1777),  25. 
Easton  (1759),  234.  Franco-Amer 
ican  (1777),  299.  Fort  Mclntosh 
(1785),  165.  Fort  Pitt  (1777),  235. 
Fort  Stanwix  (1768),  22,  116. 
Greenville  (1795),  10,  118,  119. 
Niagara  (1777),  25.  Oswego  (1777), 

25,  173.     Paris  (1783),  71.     Sycamore 


Shoals  (1775),  271.  Wea  Indians, 
119. 

Trenton   (N.  J.),  campaign  for,  146. 

Truby,   Capt.   Christopher,  304. 

Truine,  John,  304. 

Trumbull,  Jonathan,  commissary- 
general,  137. 

Trumbull  County  (O.),  178. 

Tucker,  William,  231,  232. 

Turney,  Lieut.   John,  282. 

Tuscarora  Indians,  join  Americans, 
87,  137. 

Twigtwee  Indians.     See  Miami. 

Tygart,  David,  279. 

Tyler  County   (Va.),  150. 

Unlontown   (Pa.),  65,  67. 
Urbana  (O.),  founder,  162. 

Valley  Forge,  camp  at,  209,  210, 
298;  officer,  69. 

Valleys:  Cumberland,  77,  110,  148, 
153.  Great  Kanawha,  175.  Lig- 
onier,  166.  Mississippi,  199.  Path, 
87.  Perm's,  146.  Shenandoah,  135, 
248.  Tygart's,  279.  Virginia,  170. 

Van  Bibber,  Capt.  John,  78-81. 

Van   Meter,   Henry,   pioneer,  22. 

Van  Meter,  Jacob,  264. 

Van  Meter,  Capt.  John,  5,  110,  111, 
130,  135;  sketch,  22,  .23. 

Van   Meter,   John  Jr.,   captured,  22, 

Vance,   Capt.   David,  304. 

Versailles    (Ky.),   213. 

Villiers,   Coulon  de,  221. 

Vincennes  (Ind.),  British  governor, 
10,281;  settler,  234;  route  to,  265; 
expedition  against,  184,  226;  cap 
tured,  7,  10,  11,  194,  288. 

Vincent,  John,  301,   302. 

Virgin,  Capt.   Reazin,  55,  67,  68,  219. 

Virginia,  frontier  defense,  1.  48,  205- 
209,  232;  boundary  dispute,  2,  48, 
72,  110,  190,  271;  invaded,  123; 
militia,  5,  16,  30-32;  regiments, 
293;  governor,  114,  118,  258;  legis- 


INDEX 


327 


lature,  17,  132,  142,  168;  conven 
tion,  70;  laws,  169,  170,  239;  rep 
resentative  in  Congress,  187; 
British  prisoners  in,  286,  288; 
Loyalists,  143,  198;  messages  to 
Delawares,  88;  supplies  lead,  203; 
Historical  Collections •,  157;  His 
torical  Magazine,  178. 

Wakatomica,  campaign,  45. 

Walker,  John,  302. 

Wallace,  Lieut.  Andrew,  27. 

Wallace,  David,  196. 

Wallace,  Peter  Jr.,  27. 

Wallace,  Richard,  71,  148. 

Wallace  family,  196. 

Wapeymachickthe,  Morgan's  Shaw- 
nee  name,  234,  237. 

Ward,  James,  killed  in  Dunmore's 
War,  162-164. 

Ward,  Capt.  James  Jr.,  Kentucky 
pioneer,  163. 

Ward,  John,  Indian  captive,  164. 

Ward,  J.   Q.  A.,  sculptor,  162. 

Ward,  William,  deposition,  162,  163. 

Warm  Springs  (Va.),  150. 

Warren  (Pa.),  180. 

Wars:  French  and  Indian,  4,  15, 
117,  146,  165,  166,  171,  190,  213,  219. 
Pontiac's  (1763),  119,  166,  217,  219, 
281,  292,  Dunmore's  (1774),  2,  4, 
11,  196,  246,  248,  249.  Cherokee 
(1776),  90.  Spain  and  Great  Brit 
ain  (1778),  289.  1812-15,  119,  139, 
235,  260,  275.  Secession,  119. 

Washington,  Gen.  George,  17;  in 
French  and  Indian  War,  209,  216, 
217,  221;  in  the  West,  4,  106,  107, 
190;  commander  in  chief,  104,  105, 
208,  212,  213,  297,  298;  appoints 
officers,  190,  294;  commends  offi 
cer,  146;  encounters  Howe,  87, 
123;  letters  for,  154,  172-174. 

Washington,  Col.  Samuel,  commis 
sioner,  198,  228. 

Washington  family,  17. 


Washington  (D.  C.),  Indians  at, 
118. 

Washington    (Ky.),    pioneers,    164. 

Washington  (Pa.),  6,  294. 

Washington  County  (Pa.),  40,  54, 
77,  112,  130,  134,  200,  218,  294. 

Washington  County  (Va.),  38,  239, 
294. 

Wawiaghtana.     See   Ouiatanon. 

Wayne,  Gen.  Anthony,  at  Stony 
Point,  213,  257;  defeats  Indians, 
10,  12,  118,  164,  235. 

Waynesburg  (Pa.),  22. 

Wea  Indians.     See  Ouiatanon. 

Weedon,  Gen.  George,  213,  214. 

Wells,  — ,  messenger,  299. 

Wellsburg  (W.  Va.),  41,  54. 

West  Augusta,  committee  for,  185; 
regiment — >see  Thirteenth  Virginia. 

West  Virginia,  panhandle,  135; 
Historical  Magazine,  65,  78,  149. 

Western   Reserve   (O.),   settled,  165. 

Westmoreland  County  (Pa.),  bound 
aries,  40,  50;  seat,  6;  sites  in,  200; 
officers,  37,  39,  70,  71,  110,  139,  145, 
148;  militia,  1,  3,  25,  134,  141,  147, 
155,  215,  216,  222,  304,305;  rangers, 
22;  recruits,  47;  raided,  147,  155, 
188;  frontier  defense,  69-J2,  238; 
expedition  from,  193;  pioneer,  41; 
address  to,  6;  sketch,  25. 

Wetzel,  George,  296. 

Wetzel,  Jacob,  296. 

Wetzel,  Capt.  John,  296,  305. 

Wetzel,  John  Jr.,  296. 

Wetzel,  Lewis,  296. 

Wetzel,  Martin,  296,  302. 

Wharton,  Thomas,  24. 

Wheeling  (W.  Va.),  commandant, 
14,  110;  garrison,  33,  120;  skir 
mish  near,  36;  threatened,  19,  2G; 
reinforced,  49,  106;  besieged,  96, 
106,  107,  118,  134;  after  siege,  76, 
77,  83-85;  losses,  95;  siege  of  1782, 
68,  233-235;  war  party  at,  164; 
Clark's  expedition,  39,  272;  boats, 
226,  227,  263;  Hand  visits,  138-140; 


328 


INDEX 


settlers,    15,    59.      See    also    Fort 

Henry. 

Whitaker,  James,  254. 
White,  William,  303. 
White     Eyes,     Delaware    chief,     29; 

warns  Americans,  62,  254,  255,  268; 

neutral,    173;      friendly,    179,    244; 

messages     for,     112-118,     228,     229; 

messages  from,  93-97,  100,  101,  103; 

message  to  Shawnee,  260;    in  dan 
ger,  35;    visits  Fort  Pitt,  164,  166, 

167;    sketch,  35. 
White  Mingo,  on  warpath,  179,  180, 

188,  189;    at  Cuyahoga,  230. 
Whittaker,  Daniel,  302. 
Wiley,      Samuel      T.,       History      of 

Monongalia  County,  44,    305. 
Wilkinson,  Gen.  James,   expedition, 

119. 

Williams,   Capt.   Richard,  304. 
Williams,  William,  301. 
Williamsburgh  (Va.),  16,  17,  142-144. 
Williamson,    Capt.    David,    55,    130, 

135. 

Williamson,  John,  130. 
Williamson,  Joseph,  130. 
Willing,  Anne  Shippen,  191. 
Willing,  Charles,  191. 
Willing,     Capt.     James,     expedition, 

191,    202;      supplies    for,    278,    290; 

boat   crew,  302,  303;     captures  boat, 

286;     buys   land,    200;     letter,    198, 
199;     sketch,  191. 
Willing,  Thomas,   financier,  191. 
Wilmington    (Del.),    skirmish    near, 

146. 

Wilson,  — ,  mill  owner,  24. 
Wilson,  Ensign  David,  300,  301. 
Wilson,    James,     Pennsylvania    pio 
neer,  153. 

Wilson,  John,  300. 
Wilson,  Rev.  Robert,  164. 
Winbiddie,  Conrad,  304. 
Winchester  (Va.),  181,  272. 
Wingenund          (Wiondoughwalind), 

Delaware    chief,    95,    96,    101,    102, 

118,  119. 


Winston,  Richard,  292. 

Wise,  Jacob,  304. 

Wisconsin  Historical  Collections, 
7-9,  29,  147. 

Withers,  Alexander,  secures  in 
formation,  61.  See  also,  Thwaites, 
Withtrs's  Chronicles, 

Wood,  James,  at  Indian  towns,  4, 
172. 

Woodford,   Gen.    William,  213. 

Woodford  County  (Ky.),  79,  213. 

Woods,  Ensign  — ,  killed,  166. 

Woods,  William,  304. 

Woodstock   (Va.),  211,  212. 

Worley,   Nathan,  killed,  21. 

Wright,   Benjamin,   305. 

Wright,  Capt.  James,  77. 

Wright,  Joshua,  77. 

Wyandot  (Huron)  Indians,  at  De 
troit  council,  7-13;  friendly,  6; 
urged  to  war,  137;  hostile,  19,  20, 
29,  48,  86,  88,  112,  138,  154,  235,  236, 
269;  war  parties,  35,  50,  95,  96,  100, 
164,  254,  255,  268;  at  siege  of 
Wheeling,  67;  at  Cuyahoga,  230; 
relations  with  Delawares,  28,  29, 
167,  242;  with  Mingo,  147;  chief, 
25;  conciliated,  260;  in  War  of 
1812-15,  275. 


Xenia  (O.),  26,  252. 


Yeager,  Joseph,  305. 

Yeates,  Jasper,  letters  for,  5,  6,  19, 
20,  48,  49,  118-120,  128,  188-192, 
197-201,  215,  216,  249,  250,  253; 
sketch,  5. 

Yeates,  Sarah,  5. 

Yoho,   Henry,  302,  305. 

Yoho,  John,  302. 

Yohogania  County  (Va.),  court. 
190;  officers,  51,  HO,  145,  148,  220, 
233,  294;  militia,  17,  155,  177;  vol 
unteers,  42;  defense  of,  238;  rec 
ords,  185,  277. 


INDEX 


329 


York  (Pa.),  136,  201,  251,  255,  297. 
Yorktown  (Va.),  siege,  214. 


Zane,  Andrew,  early  Wheeling 
settler,  15;  at  siege,  56,  57,  60,  63; 
sketch,  56. 

Zane,  Ebenezer,  15,  61,  62,  64. 

Zane,  Isaac,  captured,  15. 

Zane,  Jonathan,  15. 


Zane,  Noah,  61. 

Zane,  Robert,  15. 

Zane,  Silas,  15,  57,  59. 

Zane,  William,  15. 

Zeisberger,  David,  Moravian  mis 
sionary,  244;  letters,  67,  93,  94, 
101,  102,  118,  164-167;  warns  set 
tlers,  18,  19,  27-29;  commended, 
92,  115;  British  address,  284; 
sketch,  18. 


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